espial
Americannoun
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the act of spying.
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the act of keeping watch; observation.
noun
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the act or fact of being seen or discovered
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the act of noticing
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the act of spying upon; secret observation
Etymology
Origin of espial
1350–1400; Middle English espiaille < Middle French. See espy, -al 2
Vocabulary lists containing espial
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Among the crowd entering the Exhibition he could easily keep her in sight without risk of his espial being detected.
From Eve's Ransom by Gissing, George
Not caring to be observed in his clandestine espial he drew back a little, still keeping the figure of the girl in sight, and listened to the music.
From Aunt Rachel by Murray, David Christie
"Their purpose, madam," replied the Lady of Lochleven, "they must themselves explain—but a formal annunciation were needless, where your Grace hath attendants who can play the espial so well."
From The Abbot by Scott, Walter, Sir
His rat-tat-tat brought to the door a thin yellow face, cautious in espial, through the narrow opening.
From Will Warburton by Gissing, George
It was even possible, he thought, that, if she had not herself seen Cecily, some one in her employment had made the espial for her.
From The Emancipated by Gissing, George
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
