SPYING • E-FREE TRANSLATION.COM • Definition of Spying

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/spˈaɪɪŋ/ Listen

verb

Spy v. t. (past & past part. spied; pres. part. spying)

To gain sight of; to discover at a distance, or in a state of concealment; to espy; to see. "One, in reading, skipped over all sentences where he spied a note of admiration."

To discover by close search or examination. "Look about with your eyes; spy what things are to be reformed in the church of England."

To explore; to view, inspect, and examine secretly, as a country; usually with out. "Moses sent to spy out Jaazer, and they took the villages thereof."

Spy v. i. To search narrowly; to scrutinize. "It is my nature's plague To spy into abuses."

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Etymology of 'Spying'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Spying" Quotes from Famous Books

... account to settle with regular legal justice, with the articles of codes. He has behind him, spying upon and watching him, hatred in their hearts, and vengeance in their hands, Orloff in his palace, and Mouravieff among the people; he may be assassinated by one of his army, or poisoned by one of his family; he runs the risk of barrack ...

— Napoleon the Little • Victor Hugo

... you must be careful not to disturb the little tell-tale creatures of the woods or success that seems so near may vanish in a moment; for a raven may fly overhead, and spying you, circle about—just as the pigeons used to do—and then crying out may warn the moose of your presence. Or you may flush a partridge; or a squirrel, taking fright, may rush up a tree and begin chattering about you; or a rabbit may go drumming into a thicket, and the moose, reading these signs ...

— The Drama of the Forests - Romance and Adventure • Arthur Heming

... home, Cherry; you have disobeyed my orders. I can have no one spying and watching me. I must send you away, my child." He spoke so sadly that Cherry's heart felt as though it must break. "And I must have Aunt Prudence back," ...

— Cornwall's Wonderland • Mabel Quiller-Couch

... friendly terms of our old acquaintance at Nathaniel's, giving me directions and advice about imaginary operations. Hour after hour we watched for a sail, and no sail appeared. One could hardly believe we could toss about so long in the main highway of traffic without seeing a ship or spying more than the smoke-trail of some ...

— Hilda Wade - A Woman With Tenacity Of Purpose • Grant Allen

... know, sir, and I don't care. But since you're spying round, come in!" and Mr. Bowdoin led his son into the vault. "There, sir, there's the confounded box," tapping with his cane the old chest that lay ...

— Pirate Gold • Frederic Jesup Stimson

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