detection, catching, espial, spying, spotting
(noun) the act of detecting something; catching sight of something
spying, undercover work
(noun) the act of keeping a secret watch for intelligence purposes
spying
(noun) keeping a secret or furtive watch
Source: WordNet® 3.1
spying
present participle of spy
spying (countable and uncountable, plural spyings)
espionage
• pigsny
Source: Wiktionary
Spy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spied; p. pr. & vb. n. Spying.] Etym: [OE. spien, espien, OF. espier, F. épier, OHG. speh, G. spähen; akin to L. specere to see, Skr. spa(Espy, v.t., Aspect, Auspice, Circumspect, Conspicuouc, Despise, Frontispiece, Inspect, Prospect, Respite, Scope, Scecimen, Spectacle, Specter, Speculate, Spice, Spite, Suspicion.]
Definition: 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. Swift.
2. To discover by close search or examination. Look about with yout eyes; spy what things are to be reformed in the church of England. Latimer.
3. To explore; to view; inspect; and examine secretly, as a country;
– usually with out. Moses sent to spy Jaazer, and they took the villages thereof. Num. xxi. 32.
Spy, v. i.
Definition: To search narrowly; to scrutinize. It is my nature's plague To spy into abuses. Shak.
Spy, n.; pl. Spies. Etym: [See Spy, v., and cf. Espy, n.]
1. One who keeps a constant watch of the conduct of others. "These wretched spies of wit." Dryden.
2. (Mil.)
Definition: A person sent secretly into an enemy's camp, territory, or fortifications, to inspect his works, ascertain his strength, movements, or designs, and to communicate such intelligence to the proper officer. Spy money, money paid to a spy; the reward for private or secret intelligence regarding the enemy.
– Spy Wednesday (Eccl.), the Wednesday immediately preceding the festival of Easter; -- so called in allusion to the betrayal of Christ by Judas Iscariot.
Syn.
– See Emissary, and Scout.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
27 June 2025
(adjective) having four equal sides and four right angles or forming a right angle; “a square peg in a round hole”; “a square corner”
The Boston Tea Party helped popularize coffee in America. The hefty tea tax imposed on the colonies in 1773 resulted in America switching from tea to coffee. In the lead up to the Revolutionary War, it became patriotic to sip java instead of tea. The Civil War made the drink more pervasive. Coffee helped energize tired troops, and drinking it became an expression of freedom.
