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.
To inspect narrowly; to examine and keep watch upon; to watch; to observe. He sends angels to espy us in all our ways. Jer. Taylor.
To look or search narrowly; to look about; to watch; to take notice; to spy. Stand by the way, and espy. Jer. xlviii. 19.
A spy; a scout. [Obs.] Huloet.
A suffix of certain words from the French, Italian, and Spanish. It denotes manner or style; like; as, arabesque, after the manner of the Arabs.
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