I. ˈspī verb
( spied ; spy·ing )
Etymology: Middle English spien, from Anglo-French espier, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German spehōn to spy; akin to Latin specere to look, look at, Greek skeptesthai & skopein to watch, look at, consider
Date: 13th century
transitive verb
1. : to watch secretly usually for hostile purposes
2. : to catch sight of : see
3. : to search or look for intensively — usually used with out
spy out places fit for vending…goods — S. E. Morison
intransitive verb
1. : to observe or search for something : look
2. : to watch secretly as a spy
II. noun
( plural spies )
Date: 13th century
1. : one that spies:
a. : one who keeps secret watch on a person or thing to obtain information
b. : a person employed by one nation to secretly convey classified information of strategic importance to another nation ; also : a person who conveys the trade secrets of one company to another
2. : an act of spying