Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
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noun
A person who secretly watches and examines the actions of other individuals or organizations and gathers information on them (usually to gain an advantage).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: espy, intelligencer
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A defensive player assigned to cover an offensive backfield player man-to-man when they are expected to engage in a running play, but the offensive player does not run with the ball immediately.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: American-football, ball-games, football, games, hobbies, lifestyle, sports
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To act as a spy.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To spot; to catch sight of; to espy.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To search narrowly; to scrutinize.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To explore; to see; to view; inspect and examine secretly, as a country.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
(military) a secret agent hired by a state to obtain information about its enemies or by a business to obtain industrial secrets from competitors
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: undercover agent
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: secret agent, intelligence officer, intelligence agent, operative
Narrower terms: counterspy, mole, double agent, espionage agent, foreign agent, infiltrator, sleeper, Mata Hari, Margarete Gertrud Zelle
noun
a secret watcher; someone who secretly watches other people
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: spectator, witness, viewer, watcher, looker
Narrower terms: snoop, snooper, tail, shadow, shadower
verb
secretly collect sensitive or classified information; engage in espionage
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: investigate, inquire, enquire
verb
watch, observe, or inquire secretly
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: stag, snoop, sleuth
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: monitor, supervise
verb
catch sight of
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: descry, spot, espy
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: spy, sight
verb
catch sight of; to perceive with the eyes
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: sight
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: perceive, comprehend
Narrower terms: descry, spot, espy, spy, detect, observe, find, discover, notice
History
From Middle English spien, aphetic variant of earlier espien (“to espy”), from Old French espier (“to spy”), from Frankish *spehōn (“to spy”), from Proto-Germanic *spehōną (“to see, look”), from Proto-Indo-European *speḱ- (“to look”). Akin to German spähen (“to spy”), Dutch spieden (“to spy”). The noun displaced native Old English sċēawere (literally “watcher”), which was also the word for "mirror." In this sense, the verb displaced Old English sċēawian, which was also the word for "to watch" and became the Modern English word show. Distant cognate vie PIE with Latin speculātor, Ancient Greek κατάσκοπος (katáskopos). Compare typologically Russian согляда́тай (sogljadátaj) (akin to гляде́ть (gljadétʹ)).
Across languages
294 source translations are retained for this English entry.
