spying
noun
- the act of investigating intensively or discovery by close observation, clandestine observation
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈspaɪ.ɪŋ/
noun
Etymology: Inherited from Middle English spyinge, spiyng, spyeng, equivalent to spy + -ing.
- espionage; the act of secretly gathering information
“There are two ways in which the obsessive character of jealousy tends to exert itself: one is in the need to know, the endless tests and investigations and spyings that are so characteristic of jealousy.”
verb
Etymology: See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
- present participle and gerund of spy