espyest

Verb

espy (third-person singular simple present espies, present participle espying, simple past and past participle espied)

1. (transitive) To find out or observe (someone or something, especially if not easy to see) by spying or looking; to catch sight of; to see; to spot.
   • to espy land to espy a man in a crowd

   Synonyms:

   descry, discern, discover, catch sight of, clock, decern, goam, ken, make out, spot

2. (transitive) To see (someone or something) without foreplanning or unexpectedly.
   • […] I chaunced to eſpie thys foraſyde Peter talkynge wyth a certeyne ſtraunger a man well ſtryken in age wyth a blake sonne burned face, a longe bearde and a cloke catſe homely about hys ſhoulders, whom by hys fauour & apparrel forthwythe I iudged to be a maryner.1551, Thomas More, “The Fyrste Boke of the Communycacion of Raphaell Hythlodaye Concernynge the Best State of a Commen Wealthe”, in Raphe Robynson [i.e., Ralph Robinson], transl., A Fruteful, and...
3. (obsolete, transitive) To observe (someone or something) as a spy; also, to examine or observe (someone or something) carefully; or to look out or watch for.
   • Remember the subtyle worldly wyse Counsellours of Hāmon, the sonne of Naas, king of the Amonites, which when Dauid had sent hys seruauntes to comfort the yong kyng, for the death of hys father, by craftye imaginacions counselled Hāmon not alonely not to receiue them gently, but to entreate them...1530 December 10 (date written; Gregorian calendar), Hugh Latimer, “The Letter of Maister Latimer Written to King Henry [VIII], Answering to the foresaid Inhibition of the Byshops”, in John Foxe...
4. (obsolete, transitive) To become aware of (a fact, information, etc.).
   • If being the Commander of an army, thou eſpieſt a groſſe and manifeſt error in thine Enemy, look vvell to thy ſelfe, for treachery is not farre off: Hee vvhom deſire of victory binds too much, is apt to ſtumble at his ovvne Ruine.1640, Fra[ncis] Quarles, “[The First Century.] Chapter LXXIII.”, in Enchiridion: Containing Institutions, Divine, Contemplative, Practical. Moral, Ethical, Oeconomicall, Politicall, London: […] R....
5. (archaic, intransitive) To observe as a spy, to spy; also, to examine or observe carefully; or to look out or watch.
   • O inhabitant of Aroer, ſtand by the way, and eſpie; aſke him that fleeth, and her that eſcapeth, and ſay, VVhat is done?1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Jeremiah 48:19, column 2

See all 10 meanings of espy