Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Espy \Es*py"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Espied}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Espying}.] [OF. espier, F. ['e]pier, from OHG. speh?n to
   watch, spy, G. sp["a]hen; akin to L. specere to look, species
   sight, shape, appearance, kind. See {Spice}, {Spy}, and cf.
   {Espionage}.]
   1. To catch sight of; to perceive with the eyes; to discover,
      as a distant object partly concealed, or not obvious to
      notice; to see at a glance; to discern unexpectedly; to
      spy; as, to espy land; to espy a man in a crowd.

            As one of them opened his sack to give his ass
            provender in the inn, . . . he espied his money.
                                                  --Gen. xlii.
                                                  27.

            A goodly vessel did I then espy Come like a giant
            from a haven broad.                   --Wordsworth.

   2. To inspect narrowly; to examine and keep watch upon; to
      watch; to observe.

            He sends angels to espy us in all our ways. --Jer.
                                                  Taylor.

   Syn: To discern; discover; detect; descry; spy.