espial

American  

[ih-spahy-uhl] / ɪˈspaɪ əl /

noun

1. the act of spying.

2. the act of keeping watch; observation.

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espial British  

/ ɪˈspaɪəl /

noun

1. the act or fact of being seen or discovered

2. the act of noticing

3. the act of spying upon; secret observation

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Etymology

Origin of espial

1350–1400; Middle English espiaille < Middle French. See espy, -al ²

Example Sentences

Some regarded it as an act of espial, and much foolish talk arose about the covenanters and persecution and martyrdom.

From Malcolm by MacDonald, George

Then wisdom altered its method and spoke of espial and discovery.

From The Picture of Dorian Gray by Wilde, Oscar

At last, safe from every chance of espial, she sat down again in her chair before the desk, leaned her elbows on the desk, and looked desperately, miserably, into the joyous face of the picture.

From Stories That End Well An Adventure in Altruria——Through the Terrors of the Law——The Real Thing——The Old Partisan——Max—Or His Picture——The Stout Miss Hopkins' Bicycle——The Spellbinder——The Object of the Federation——The Little Lonely Girl——The Hero of Company G——A Miracle Play by Thanet, Octave

Wondering we come into this lodge of watchmen, this office of espial; let us not retreat astonished and ashamed.

From Sketches from Concord and Appledore by Stearns, Frank Preston

Then Wisdom altered its method and spoke of espial and discovery.

From The Picture of Dorian Gray by Wilde, Oscar