spied
Variant of spy
spy
definition
spy (spī)
transitive verb spied, spying spy′·ing
- to watch or observe closely and secretly, usually with unfriendly purpose: often with out
- to catch sight of; make out; perceive; see
Etymology: ME spien < OFr espier < OHG spehōn, to search out, examine < IE base *spe-, to spy, watch closely > L specere, to see, Sans spaśati, (he) sees, Gr skopein, to observe
intransitive verb
- to watch or observe closely and secretly; specif., to act as a spy
- to make a close examination or careful inspection
noun pl. spies
- a person who keeps close and secret watch on another or others
- ☆ a person employed by a government to get secret information about or monitor the affairs, plans, armed forces, etc. of another government
- a person employed by a company, as in industry or commerce, to discover the business secrets of another company
- Now Rare an act of spying
adjective
- of or about spies or espionage
- used for purposes of military espionage spy plane, spy satellite
spy Idioms
spy out
to discover or seek to discover by close observation, inspection, etc.
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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