espy

C2+ Topic:Senses & Perception

US /ɪˈspaɪ/ UK /ɪˈspaɪ/ See IPA manual

verb

Meanings

1

verb
to catch sight of, especially something distant or partly hidden

From the ridge she espied a thin column of smoke.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to catch sight of,... spot glimpse sight descry discern notice detect

Opposites

overlook miss

Word family

Derived forms espial

Related forms spy espionagespial

Etymology

From Old French espier 'to spy, watch', of Germanic origin (cf. Old High German spehon), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *spek- 'to observe'.

espier Old French *spek- Proto-Indo-European

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Senses & Perception Word Formation & Derivatives

# espy

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** ɪˈspaɪ
**IPA (UK):** ɪˈspaɪ

## Meanings
1. to catch sight of, especially something distant or partly hidden

## Examples
- From the ridge she espied a thin column of smoke.

## Synonyms
- spot
- glimpse
- sight
- descry
- discern
- notice
- detect

## Antonyms
- overlook
- miss

## Derived Forms
- espial

## Related Forms
- spy
- espionage
- spial

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: espier
- Root: *spek-

## Etymology
From Old French espier 'to spy, watch', of Germanic origin (cf. Old High German spehon), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *spek- 'to observe'.

## AI Etymology
Espy is from Old French espier 'to spy, watch', of Germanic origin (cf. Old High German spehon), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *spek- 'to observe'. Important recorded forms include espier (Old French) and *spek- (Proto-Indo-European). The current sense covers to catch sight of, especially something distant or partly hidden. The wider family includes derived forms such as espial and related words such as spy, espionage, and spial.

## Topics
- Senses & Perception
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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espy

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