˜yÐÄvlog

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spy

[ spahy ]

noun

plural spies.
  1. a person employed by a government to obtain secret information or intelligence about another, usually hostile, country, especially with reference to military or naval affairs.
  2. a person who keeps close and secret watch on the actions and words of another or others.
  3. a person who seeks to obtain confidential information about the activities, plans, methods, etc., of an organization or person, especially one who is employed for this purpose by a competitor:

    an industrial spy.

  4. the act of spying.


verb (used without object)

spied, spying.
  1. to observe secretively or furtively with hostile intent (often followed by on or upon ).
  2. to act as a spy; engage in espionage.
  3. to be on the lookout; keep watch.
  4. to search for or examine something closely or carefully.

verb (used with object)

spied, spying.
  1. to catch sight of suddenly; espy; descry:

    to spy a rare bird overhead.

  2. to discover or find out by observation or scrutiny (often followed by out ).
  3. to observe (a person, place, enemy, etc.) secretively or furtively with hostile intent.
  4. to inspect or examine or to search or look for closely or carefully.

spy

/ ²õ±è²¹Éª /

noun

  1. a person employed by a state or institution to obtain secret information from rival countries, organizations, companies, etc
  2. a person who keeps secret watch on others
  3. obsolete.
    a close view
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged†2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. intrusually foll byon to keep a secret or furtive watch (on)
  2. intr to engage in espionage
  3. tr to catch sight of; descry
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged†2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other ˜yÐÄvlog Forms

  • ²õ±è²âs³ó¾±±è noun
  • ´Ç³Ü³Ùî€È´±è²â verb (used with object) outspied outspying
  • ²õ³Üp±ð°ù·²õ±è²â noun plural superspies
  • ³Ü²Ô·²õ±è¾±±ð»å adjective
  • ³Ü²Ô·²õ±è²âi²Ô²µ adjective
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˜yÐÄvlog History and Origins

Origin of spy1

First recorded in 1200–50; (for the verb) Middle English spien, shortened from espien, espyen “to espy†( espy ); (for the noun) Middle English, shortened from espy “a spy,†from Old French espie
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˜yÐÄvlog History and Origins

Origin of spy1

C13 spien, from Old French espier, of Germanic origin; related to Old High German ²õ±è±ð³óŲÔ, Middle Dutch spien
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Prince Andrew's involvement with an alleged Chinese spy came at a time his chief aide and other royals believed his reputation was "irrecoverable".

From

He claimed that the country and his political opposition had been infiltrated by North Korean and Chinese spies, and that these "anti-state forces" had rigged past elections.

From

In December, Arcadia found itself at the center of a spy scandal after federal prosecutors charged City Councilmember Eileen Wang’s campaign manager with colluding with the Chinese government to get her elected.

From

This January, the British defense secretary, John Healey, accused Russian ships of spying on the location of undersea communication and utility cables that connect Britain to the rest of the world.

From

We had to operate carefully, because the country is riddled with informers and secret police who spy on their own people for the ruling military junta.

From

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