I. ə̇ˈspī, eˈ- verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: Middle English espien, aspien, spien — more at spy
transitive verb
1. : see , perceive , discover
there among the several horses that whistled at her approach she espied the white mustang — Zane Grey
especially : to see and recognize (something distant, obscure, or covert)
in that moment the duke, turning, espied us — Rafael Sabatini
2. archaic : to inspect closely : watch
I would fain have espied them, but they stopped up the keyhole — W.S.Gilbert
also : to spy out
intransitive verb
obsolete : to keep a watch : observe or look about closely
Synonyms: see see
II. noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English espie, aspie, spie — more at spy
obsolete : spy