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spying |
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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