verb
espy
ih-SPY/ɪˈspaɪ/
To catch sight of something, often at a distance.
From the hilltop, we espy a deer near the woods.
Etymology
Old French espiier meant watching closely or spying on something. Espy shifts the emphasis from the act of watching to its result: catching sight of something, especially at a distance.
More examples
- She espies a familiar face across the crowded room.
- We finally espied the cabin through the trees.
- On espying a distant sail, he reached for his binoculars.
Forms
espy · espies · espied · espying