- Espied
- Espy Es*py", v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Espied}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Espying}.] [OF. espier, F. ['e]pier, from OHG. speh?n to
watch, spy, G. sp["a]hen; akin to L. specere to look, species
sight, shape, appearance, kind. See {Spice}, {Spy}, and cf.
{Espionage}.]
1. To catch sight of; to perceive with the eyes; to discover,
as a distant object partly concealed, or not obvious to
notice; to see at a glance; to discern unexpectedly; to
spy; as, to espy land; to espy a man in a crowd.
[1913 Webster]
As one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the inn, . . . he espied his money. --Gen. xlii. 27. [1913 Webster]
A goodly vessel did I then espy Come like a giant from a haven broad. --Wordsworth. [1913 Webster]
2. To inspect narrowly; to examine and keep watch upon; to watch; to observe. [1913 Webster]
He sends angels to espy us in all our ways. --Jer. Taylor.
Syn: To discern; discover; detect; descry; spy. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
