Espy

[imp. & p. p. ESPIED; p. pr. & vb. n. ESPYING.] [O. Fr. espier, N. Fr épier; Pr. & Sp. espiar, It. spiare, from O. H. Ger. spehôn, N. H. Ger. spähen, Sw. speja, Dan. speide, O. D. spien, spieden, N. D. bespieden. See SPY.]

1Sense 1. To catch sight of; to perceive with the eyes; to discover, as a distant object partly concealed, or not obvious to notice; to discern unexpectedly; as, to espy land; to espy a man in a crowd.

As one of them opened his sack, he espied his money. Gen. xlii. 27.

2Sense 2. To inspect narrowly; to examine and keep watch upon.

He sends angels to espy us in all our ways. Bp. Taylor.

Synonyms— To discern; discover; find out; descry; spy.

n. [O. Fr. espie, Pr. & Sp. espia, It. spia, O. H. Ger. speha, D. spie, spiede. See supra, and cf. ESPIONAGE.] A spy; a scout. [Obs.] Huloet.