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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	spying
     n 1: keeping a secret or furtive watch
     2: the act of keeping a secret watch for intelligence purposes
        [syn: undercover work]
     3: the act of detecting something; catching sight of something
        [syn: detection, catching, espial, spotting]

	

	33 Moby Thesaurus words for "spying":
   bugging, cloak-and-dagger work, counterespionage,
   counterintelligence, detection, electronic surveillance, espial,
   espionage, following, intelligence, intelligence work, looking,
   lookout, military intelligence, note, notice, observance,
   observation, regard, respect, secret police, secret service,
   shadowing, stakeout, surveillance, tailing, trailing, viewing,
   watch, watching, wiretap, wiretapping, witnessing