spy : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: spy	by the DICT Development Group
4 results for spy
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
spy n (military) a secret agent hired by a state to obtain information about its enemies or by a business to obtain industrial secrets from competitors Synonym(s): spy, undercover agent a secret watcher; someone who secretly watches other people; "my spies tell me that you had a good time last night" v catch sight of Synonym(s): descry, spot, espy, spy watch, observe, or inquire secretly Synonym(s): spy, stag, snoop, sleuth catch sight of; to perceive with the eyes; "he caught sight of the king's men coming over the ridge" Synonym(s): spy, sight secretly collect sensitive or classified information; engage in espionage; "spy for the Russians"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Spy \Spy\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Spied}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Spying}.] [OE. spien, espien, OF. espier, F. [82]pier, OHG. speh[?]n, G. sp[84]hen; akin to L. specere to see, Skr. spa([?]). [?] 169. Cf. {Espy}, v.t., {Aspect}, {Auspice}, {Circumspect}, {Conspicuouc}, {Despise}, {Frontispiece}, {Inspect}, {Prospect}, {Respite}, {Scope}, {Scecimen}, {Spectacle}, {Specter}, {Speculate}, {Spice}, {Spite}, {Suspicion}.] To gain sight of; to discover at a distance, or in a state of concealment; to espy; to see. One in reading, skipped over all sentences where he spied a note of admiration. --Swift. 2. To discover by close search or examination. Look about with yout eyes; spy what things are to be reformed in the church of England. --Latimer. 3. To explore; to view; inspect; and examine secretly, as a country; -- usually with out. Moses sent to spy Jaazer, and they took the villages thereof. --Num. xxi. 32.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Spy \Spy\, v. i. To search narrowly; to scrutinize. It is my nature's plague To spy into abuses. --Shak.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Spy \Spy\, n.; pl. {Spies}. [See {Spy}, v., and cf. {Espy}, n.] 1. One who keeps a constant watch of the conduct of others. [bd]These wretched spies of wit.[b8] --Dryden. 2. (Mil.) A person sent secretly into an enemy's camp, territory, or fortifications, to inspect his works, ascertain his strength, movements, or designs, and to communicate such intelligence to the proper officer. {Spy money}, money paid to a spy; the reward for private or secret intelligence regarding the enemy. {Spy Wednesday} (Eccl.), the Wednesday immediately preceding the festival of Easter; -- so called in allusion to the betrayal of Christ by Judas Iscariot. Syn: See {Emissary}, and {Scout}.