Sur-veil'lant, n.

(sur-väl'yant), n.; pl. SUR-VEIL'-LANTS (sur-väl'yants). [Fr., from surveiller, to watch over.] [See supra.] One who watches over another; an overseer; a spy.

In the following passage, the word is erroneously used to signify the person watched over, thus giving it a passive sense: “John Walker . . . occupied the post of a spy upon their aberrations. . . . Of course it was for the interests of the surveillants to throw discredit upon all Jack's reports.” Jon Bee (i. e., John Badcock).