verb

espy

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Espy (verb) means to notice or catch sight of someone or something that is hard to see.

verb

To notice or catch sight of someone or something that is hard to see.

"to espy land to espy a man in a crowd"

To see someone or something by chance, without meaning to.

"After a long time the master turned about and walked into the cabin and, there espying Philip Marsham, he smiled and said, ‘‘I was remiss. I had forgotten you.” He threw aside the cloak that lay on the chair and sat down." — Charles Boardman Hawes, The Dark Frigate (1923)

To watch someone secretly, or to look out for something carefully.

To realise or find out a fact or piece of information.

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

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Etymology

From Middle English aspien, espien (“to make covert observations of (a person or place) with hostile intent, to spy on; to seek to discover by spying; to act as a spy; to catch sight of, see; to look over, observe; to wait in ambush, to ambush; to plot against; to look for, seek to find; to inquire or look into, investigate; to discover, find”) [and other forms], from Old French espier (“to watch”) (modern French épier (“to keep an eye on, watch; to spy on; (dated) to watch for”)), from Vulgar Latin *spiāre, from Frankish *spehōn (“to look, peer; to spy”), from Proto-Germanic *spehōną (“to look, peer; to spy”), from Proto-Indo-European *speḱ- (“to look, observe, see”). Doublet of spy. Cognates * Ancient Greek σκέπτομαι (sképtomai, “to examine; to look at; to consider, think”) * Italian spiare * Latin speciō (“to look at, observe, watch”) * Old High German spehōn (modern German spähen) * Occitan espiar * Spanish espiar

Synonyms

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spy descry spot

Related words

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Frequently asked questions

What is the meaning of espy?

"espy" (verb) means to notice or catch sight of someone or something that is hard to see.

What is another word for espy?

Other words for "espy" include spy, descry, spot.

What are the different meanings of espy?

"espy" has 3 main meanings: 1. To notice or catch sight of someone or something that is hard to see; 2. To see someone or something by chance, without meaning to; 3. To watch someone secretly, or to look out for something carefully.

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