Es‐py″ (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Espied (?); p. pr. & vb. n.Espying.] [OF. espier, F. épier, from OHG. speh�n to watch, spy, G. spähen; 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.
He sends angels to espy us in all our ways. Jer. Taylor.
Syn. — To discern; discover; detect; descry; spy.