Surveil
/sɜːrˈveɪl/noun
To observe or monitor someone or something, especially for the purpose of gathering information.
Did you know?The term 'surveil' comes from the French word 'surveiller', which translates to 'watch over', linking it to the age-old practice of monitoring for safety—or control.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
supervidere
“to oversee or watch over, composed of 'super' (over) and 'videre' (to see).”
Old French
Old French
surveiller
“to watch over, derived from 'sur-' (over) and 'veiller' (to watch).”
17th Century
English
surveil
“to keep watch or monitor, adopted into English from French.”
Modern English
English
surveil
“to observe closely, often in a context of security or intelligence.”