2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Spy  \Spy\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Spied};  p.  pr  &  vb  n. 
  {Spying}.]  [OE.  spien,  espien,  OF  espier,  F.  ['e]pier,  OHG. 
  speh?n,  G.  sp["a]hen;  akin  to  L.  specere  to  see  Skr.  spa(?). 
  ?  169.  Cf  {Espy},  v.t.,  {Aspect},  {Auspice},  {Circumspect}, 
  {Conspicuouc},  {Despise},  {Frontispiece},  {Inspect}, 
  {Prospect},  {Respite},  {Scope},  {Scecimen},  {Spectacle}, 
  {Specter},  {Speculate},  {Spice},  {Spite},  {Suspicion}.] 
  To  gain  sight  of  to  discover  at  a  distance,  or  in  a  state  of 
  concealment;  to  espy;  to  see 
 
  One  in  reading,  skipped  over  all  sentences  where  he 
  spied  a  note  of  admiration.  --Swift. 
 
  2.  To  discover  by  close  search  or  examination. 
 
  Look  about  with  yout  eyes;  spy  what  things  are  to  be 
  reformed  in  the  church  of  England.  --Latimer. 
 
  3.  To  explore;  to  view;  inspect;  and  examine  secretly,  as  a 
  country;  --  usually  with  out 
 
  Moses  sent  to  spy  Jaazer,  and  they  took  the  villages 
  thereof.  --Num.  xxi. 
  32. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  spying 
  n  1:  keeping  a  secret  or  furtive  watch 
  2:  the  act  of  keeping  a  secret  watch  for  intelligence  purposes 
  [syn:  {undercover  work}] 
  3:  the  act  of  detecting  something  catching  sight  of  something 
  [syn:  {detection},  {catching},  {espial},  {spotting}] 

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