Talk:spy

Etymology in Webster's New World Dictionary (ed. D.B. Guralnik; 1959; pbk.; 632 pp.):

[< OHG. spehōn, examine]

—Strabismus 20:21, 21 February 2009 (UTC)

Split noun sense?

Should we distinguish between the career of a state spy (think James Bond, or Mata Hari) and simply calling somebody a "spy" for prying into one's business etc.? Equinox ◑ 20:28, 22 November 2018 (UTC)

(Intransitive) observe in secret

(Intransitive)  to keep watch secretly or furtively on somebody or something in order to gain information
Have you been spying on us again? 

--Backinstadiums (talk) 09:21, 12 October 2020 (UTC)

(Tr) discover by close observation. JMGN (talk) 08:39, 9 September 2024 (UTC)