| 释义 |
espial|ɪˈspaɪəl|
Forms: 4 espi-, espyaile, -lle, (expyayle), 4–7 espiall(e, 6–7 espyal(l, 5– espial.
[a. OF. espiaille the action of spying (concr. in pl. ‘spies’), f. espier, mod.F. épier: see espy v.]
1. The action of espying or spying.
a. The acting as a spy; the action of keeping watch; observation. Also attrib.
c1386Chaucer Melib. ⁋353 Thanne schal ye evermore counterwayte embusshementz and alle espiaille. 1393Gower Conf. III. 56 For espiall and mistrowinges They dide thanne suche thinges, That every man might other knowe. 1477Earl Rivers (Caxton) Dictes 11 a, Be ware well that thou be not supprised by thin ennemyes, for lakke of wache and good espial. 1552Huloet, Espiall place, or corner to spye out of. 1612–15Bp. Hall Contempl. O.T. xix. ix, There are spies upon him, whose espials have moved their anger. 1848Dickens Dombey 256 The Captain..cut a small hole of espial in the wall. 1876M. E. Braddon J. Haggard's Dau. I. 73 A little room next the hall-door, a closet of espial.
†b. Detection, discovery. Obs.
a1557G. Cavendish Life Wolsey (T.), After the espial of this boy my lord revealed the same unto the Council.
c. The action of espying or catching sight of anything; the fact of being espied.
1580Babington Exp. Lord's Prayer (1596) 212 A true espiall of sanctification of life in our selues. 1683tr. Erasm. Moriæ Enc. 24 They are as Eagle-sighted as may be in the espial of others faults. 1814Byron Corsair i. xvii, Conrad's prow pass'd by, Screen'd from espial by the jutting cape. 1830Hood Haunted House i. ix, Roses with thistles struggled for espial.
†2. concr. A body of spies; hence (chiefly in pl.) a spy, scout. Obs.
c1386Chaucer Friar's T. 23 Ful prively he had his espiaile. 1531Elyot Gov. iii. vi, Dauid by an espiall knewe that they were all faste on slepe. a1572Knox Hist. Ref. Wks. 1846 I. 452 The Quene had amangis us her assured espiallis. 1577–87Holinshed Chron. I. 174/2 His [Harold's] vnskilfull espials tooke the Normans for priests. 1649Jer. Taylor Gt. Exemp. v. §31 Our Judge stands as an espial and a watch over our actions. 1653Holcroft Procopius ii. 51 The espialls returning assured him, there would bee no invasion.
transf.1607Topsell Serpents (1608) 644 Bees..when the flowers are spent neer their lodgings, send out their espials to look for more in places further distant. |