spy 
spy (spī)
transitive verb spied, 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 out
to discover or seek to discover by close observation, inspection, etc.
spy
n.
spy
v.
Object
- mission: Despite her narrow escape, Cushman agreed to carry out further spying missions behind the Confederate lines.
Converse of object
- convict: He claimed that Julius had given atom bomb secrets that he in turn passed to Harry Gold, a convicted Soviet spy.
- convert: Having converted spies, getting hold of the enemy's spies and using them for our own purposes.
- survive: Surviving spies, finally, are those who bring back news from the enemy's camp.
Adjective modifier
- suave: The hip-hop star believes he is the perfect person to replace Pierce Brosnan as the suave spy.
- Soviet: It was his job to protect the CIA from penetration by Soviet spies.
- doomed: It is owing to his information, again, that we can cause the doomed spy to carry false tidings to the enemy.
- converted: Thus they will become converted spies and available for our service.
- Nazi: The Spirit continues his battle against Nazi spies and underground criminals in the eighth volume of this comprehensive collection of Spirit Sunday strips.
- Russian: A picture attached to the statement showed two masked men dressed in black standing behind a kneeling Russian spy.
Modifies a noun
- thriller: For sheer excitement, Ian Fleming's classic spy thrillers have still not been surpassed.
- gadget: Four selected agents will receive spy gadgets to help them become a top Secret Agent!
- plane: The spy plane incident shows just how difficult it is for President Bush to keep his feet on US ground.
- satellite: The OKO spy satellite system reports multiple US missile launches.
- ware: Back to start Could I get a virus or spy ware on my computer from downloading the Thomson Photo Editor?
- scandal: The 1983 Penguin edition contains an ` afterword ' dealing with the Geoffrey Prime spy scandal at GCHQ.
Noun used with modifier
- I: Big time / Number one / Overcome by fumes / I spy / Genuine reply / Sometimes / Ripped in two / Who?
- enemy: In practice, it was almost always members of the ST who actually arrested and interrogated enemy spies.
- fashion: She was spotted by our fashion spies in Yarm when she was out shopping with her mum. more How do you like yours?
Followed by an intransitive particle
- upon: Craig Walsh manages successfully to reverse the gaze; now we are the ones being spied upon.
For Love's sake, kiss me once again, I long, and should not beg in vain, Here's none to spy, or see; Why do you doubt, or stay? I'll taste as lightly as the Bee, That doth but touch his flower, and flies away. Once more, and (faith) I will be gone: Can he that loves, ask less than one?
The primary duty of a serious biographer is to illuminate hissubject'slife work, nottoplay thespy inhisbedroom.
While I cannot take time off to name all the men in the State Department whohavebeennamedasmembers of the Communist Party and members of a spy ring, I have here in my hand a list of 205 that were known to the Secretary of State as being members of the Communist Party, and who nevertheless are still working and shaping the policy of the State Department.
Too much importance isgiven thewriterand not enough to his work.What difference does it make who he is and what he feels, since he's merelya machine for transmission of ideas. In reality he doesn't existöhe's a cipher, a blank. A spy sent into life by the forces of death. His main objective is to get the information across the border, back into death.
The Spy who Came in from the Cold.
All seems infected that th'infected spy, As all looks yellow to the jaundiced eye.
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