Spy
/spaɪ/noun
A person who secretly collects and reports information, especially about an enemy.
Did you know?The English word ultimately comes from a Germanic root meaning “to look” or “see,” which is why its deepest history is about observation before espionage became its modern meaning.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*spek-
“to observe, watch, look at”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*spehōną / *spēaną
“to watch, observe”
Old English
OE
spīan
“to look, watch”
Middle English
ME
spien
“to watch, observe secretly; gather information”
16th Century
English
spy
“a person who watches secretly, especially to gain information”
Modern English
English
spy
“a person employed to obtain secret information”