Forms: 4 aspier, 4–5 espi-, espyour, 6– espier. [f. ESPY v. + -ER1.] One who espies or spies out; † a spy.

1

1382.  Wyclif, Hebr. xi. 31. She [Raab] takynge, or receyuynge, the aspiers with pees.

2

c. 1430.  Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, II. xii. (1869), 79. A cherl, shrewede, prowd, and daungerous … hath maad him an espyour of weyes.

3

1587.  J. Harmar, trans. Beza’s Serm., 175 (T.). Ye crafty espiers of the necessity of your poor brethren.

4

1860.  Pusey, Min. Proph., 58. Ephraim … would himself be a seer, an espier of future events.

5

1886.  R. F. Burton, Arab. Nts. (abr. ed.), I. 146. Not an inhabited house appeared to the espier.

6