ESPY • E-FREE TRANSLATION.COM • Definition of Espy

Add this Dictionary
to your website!
See more options...

/ˈɛspi/ Listen

noun

Espy n. (pl. espies) A spy; a scout. (Obs.)

verb

Espy v. t. (past & past part. espied; pres. part. espying)

To catch sight of; to perceive with the eyes; to discover, as a distant object partly concealed, or not obvious to notice; to see at a glance; to discern unexpectedly; to spy; as, to espy land; to espy a man in a crowd. "As one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the inn,... he espied his money." "A goodly vessel did I then espy Come like a giant from a haven broad."

To inspect narrowly; to examine and keep watch upon; to watch; to observe. "He sends angels to espy us in all our ways."

Synonyms: To discern; discover; detect; descry; spy.

Espy v. i. To look or search narrowly; to look about; to watch; to take notice; to spy. "Stand by the way, and espy."

See images of 'Espy'

Etymology of 'Espy'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

Share |

"Espy" Quotes from Famous Books

... could quell. There breathed but few whose aspect could defy The full encounter of his searching eye; He had the skill, when cunning gaze to seek To probe his heart and watch his changing cheek, At once the observer's purpose to espy, And on himself roll back his scrutiny, Lest he to Conrad rather should betray Some secret thought, than drag that chief's ...

— The Life of Lord Byron • John Galt

... in you shall I Myself, eased of unpeaceful thoughts, espy? Oh fields! oh woods! when, when shall I be made The happy tenant of your shade? Here's the spring-head of pleasure's flood, Where all the riches be, that she Has coined and ...

— Horace • Theodore Martin

... he came home, there did he espy A loving sight to spy or see, There did he espy his own three sons, Young Christy Grahame, the ...

— Ballads of Scottish Tradition and Romance - Popular Ballads of the Olden Times - Third Series • Various

... manner of catching the queen. I seize her very gently, as I espy her among the bees, and by taking care to crush none of them, run not the least risk of being stung. The queen herself never stings, even if handled ever ...

— Langstroth on the Hive and the Honey-Bee - A Bee Keeper's Manual • L. L. Langstroth

... as he had begun, carrying the grain to some one distant spot, and rendering it there perfectly useless. Sometimes he would find that he held a handful of mere husks, and then if, in the bitterness of his soul, he began to curse and tear his hair—he would all at once espy in those very husks— eyes that fleered at him, whilst a horrible laughter ...

— Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine -- Vol. 56, No. 346, August, 1844 • Various

More quotes...