espy

¹ American  

[ih-spahy] / ɪˈspaɪ /

verb (used with object)

espied, espying

1. to see at a distance; catch sight of.

   Synonyms:

   perceive, discover, descry, discern

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Espy ² American  

[es-pee] / ˈɛs pi /

noun

1. James Pollard 1785–1860, U.S. meteorologist.

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espy British  

/ ɪˈspaɪ /

verb

1. (tr) to catch sight of or perceive (something distant or previously unnoticed); detect

   to espy a ship on the horizon

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Espy Scientific  

/ ĕs′pē /

1. American meteorologist who is credited with the first correct explanation of the role heat plays in cloud formation and growth. His use of the telegraph in relaying meteorological observations and tracking storms laid the foundation for modern weather forecasting.

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Other Word Forms

• espier noun
• unespied adjective

Etymology

Origin of espy

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English espien, espyen, from Old French espier, ultimately from Germanic; compare German spähen “to look out”; skeptic, speculate