From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Espy \Es*py"\, verb (used with an object) [imp. & p. p. {Espied}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Espying}.] [OF. espier, F. ['e]pier, from OHG. speh?n to watch, spy, G. sp["a]hen; akin to L. specere to look, species sight, shape, appearance, kind. See {Spice}, {Spy}, and cf. {Espionage}.]
1. 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. --Gen. xlii. 27.
A goodly vessel did I then espy Come like a giant from a haven broad. --Wordsworth.
2. To inspect narrowly; to examine and keep watch upon; to watch; to observe.
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