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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Spy \Spy\ (sp[imac]), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Spied} (sp[imac]d);
p. pr. & vb. n. {Spying}.] [OE. spien, espien, OF. espier, F.
['e]pier, OHG. speh[=o]n, G. sp[aum]hen; akin to L. specere
to see, Skr. spa[,c]. [root] 169. Cf. {Espy}, v. t.,
{Aspect}, {Auspice}, {Circumspect}, {Conspicuous}, {Despise},
{Frontispiece}, {Inspect}, {Prospect}, {Respite}, {Scope},
{Specimen}, {Spectacle}, {Specter}, {Speculate}, {Spice},
{Spite}, {Suspicion}.]
1. To gain sight of; to discover at a distance, or in a state
of concealment; to espy; to see.
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One, in reading, skipped over all sentences where he
spied a note of admiration. --Swift.
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2. To discover by close search or examination.
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Look about with your eyes; spy what things are to be
reformed in the church of England. --Latimer.
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3. To explore; to view, inspect, and examine secretly, as a
country; -- usually with out.
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Moses sent to spy out Jaazer, and they took the
villages thereof. --Num. xxi.
32.
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Spy \Spy\, v. i.
To search narrowly; to scrutinize.
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It is my nature's plague
To spy into abuses. --Shak.
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Spy \Spy\, n.; pl. {Spies} (sp[imac]z). [See {Spy}, v., and cf.
{Espy}, n.]
1. One who keeps a constant watch of the conduct of others.
"These wretched spies of wit." --Dryden.
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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.
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{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.
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Syn: See {Emissary}, and {Scout}.
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