Main Entry:

¹spy

Pronunciation:

\ˈspī\

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

spied; spy·ing

Etymology:

Middle English spien, from Anglo-French espier, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German spehōn to spy; akin to Latin specere to look, look at, Greek skeptesthai & skopein to watch, look at, consider

Date:

13th century

transitive verb 1 : to watch secretly usually for hostile purposes 2 : to catch sight of : see 3 : to search or look for intensively —usually used with out<spy out places fit for vending…goods — S. E. Morison> intransitive verb 1 : to observe or search for something : look 2 : to watch secretly as a spy