spy
spy
UK[spaɪ]US[spaɪ]
n
a person who secretly collects and reports information on the activities, movements, and plans of an enemy or competitor.
v
to work as a spy; to secretly collect and report information.
v
to see or notice someone or something.
Etymology
the word 'spy' entered middle english from the old french 'espier', which meant 'to watch, observe'. this french term was borrowed from a frankish (west germanic) word akin to old high german 'spehōn', carrying the sense of looking at something keenly or secretly. the frankish root can be traced further back to the proto-germanic 'spehōną', meaning 'to look, to observe', and ultimately to the proto-indo-european root 'speḱ-', meaning 'to look, to observe'. the semantic journey is direct, moving from the general act of observing to the specialized, clandestine activity of gathering secret intelligence. the modern english verb retains both the professional sense and the more casual meaning of simply catching sight of something.
Analysis
the word is a simplex form. it derives from the old french word 'espier' meaning 'to watch, to spy', which itself came from a frankish (germanic) source related to old high german 'spehōn' (to spy). the initial 'e-' was lost in english, leaving the core form 'spy'.
Examples
the novel features a spy who works for a fictional intelligence agency.
governments often spy on each other to gain strategic advantages.
did you spy the rare bird in the tree over there?