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.
Then Wisdom altered its method and spoke of espial and discovery.
From The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Some regarded it as an act of espial, and much foolish talk arose about the covenanters and persecution and martyrdom.
From Malcolm by George MacDonald
Thus urged by our despairing lord, we made Th’ espial.
From The Seven Plays in English Verse by Sophocles
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 David Christie Murray
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 George Gissing
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
