espial n : the act of detecting something; catching sight of something [syn: detection, catching, spying, spotting]

English

Etymology

Middle English espiaille, from Old French, from espier, to watch.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -aɪəl

Noun

1. Act of noticing or observing.
2. The fact of noticing or observing; a discovery.

See also

• espy
• spy

bringing to light, bugging, casual discovery, catching, chance discovery, cloak-and-dagger work, counterespionage, counterintelligence, detection, determination, determining, disclosure, discovery, distinguishment, electronic surveillance, espionage, excavation, exhumation, exposure, find, finding, finding out, following, intelligence, intelligence work, invention, locating, location, looking, lookout, lucky strike, military intelligence, note, notice, observance, observation, recognition, rediscovery, regard, respect, revelation, secret police, secret service, serendipity, shadowing, spotting, spying, stakeout, strike, surveillance, tailing, trailing, treasure trove, trouvaille, trove, uncovering, unearthing, viewing, watch, watching, wiretap, wiretapping, witnessing