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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Espy(e, Espie, v. [ME. espye, espie (c 1320), OF. espier. Cf. Aspy v.]

1. tr. To observe closely or carefully; to spy upon. Also with out. a1500 Bk. Chess 723.
Thai gart espy this lord in tyme of mete 1513 Doug. viii. v. 76.
Eneas … kest his eyn about delyuerly, Thai stedis all to serchyn and espy c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1512.
Noye … standand on Mont Armanye, Quhare he the countre mycht espye 1567 Acts II. 576/2.
Sendand … espyis to the said toun … to persaue and espye quhat our said souerane and hir saidis lordis wer doand 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 53.
I pray yow espy out quhat proffeit the quene … sall gadder of him a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xxxiv. 21.
Espye if I applye ane vther geat

2. To catch sight of; to perceive or descry. a1500 Henr. Robin & M. 101.
Thair ma na ianglour ws espy, That is to lufe contrair c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 138.
Be lufis quene I was espyit 1513 Doug. ii. ii. 66.
Gyf euer I happit my tyme forto espy Ib. xi. 130.
Belyve the fyre al waistand I espyit Bles with the wynd 1531 Bell. Boece II. 283.
He espyit his banerman, for feir of ennimes, trimbland c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1495.
Quhen that Noye had done espye Quhow that the erth began to drye c1590 J. Stewart 31/62.
Quhilk quhan the craintiwe pucelle haid espyit, … [she] hir hands began to vring c1650 Spalding I. 284.
His depairtour is espyit, Monro is aduertesit

3. absol. or intr. (in both senses). a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 389.
He … out thair at conuoyit hir, that na man suld espy a1500 Seven S. 681.
Than quhen scho fastly had espyid, He bowned him and wald nocht byid 1513 Doug. viii. iii. 134.
Evander than … Hys eyn, hys mowth, … Gan to behald, espying with hys syght 1560 Rolland Seven S. 9126.
He durst not to the ladie ga neir, In auenture that Gwydo suld espy