espionage
/ˈɛs.pi.əˌnɑːʒ/ noun
Forms espionages
- noun The act or process of learning secret information through clandestine means.
Synonyms
Etymology
Recorded since 1793, from French espionnage, from espionner (“to spy”), from Middle French espionner (“to spy”), from espion (“spy”), from Old French espion (“spy”), from Frankish *spehō (“spy”), from Frankish *spehōn (“to spy”), from Proto-Germanic *spehōną (“to spy, peek, peer”). In modern times, the French pronunciation of the s, which had fallen silent since the 13th century, was restored due to the influence of Italian spione (“spy”), and was therefore also adopted by the English. More at spy.
Webster’s 1913
- noun The practice or employment of spies; the practice of watching the words and conduct of others, to make discoveries, as spies or secret emissaries; secret watching.
Etymology [F. espionnage, fr. espionner to spy, fr. espion spy, OF. espie. See Espy.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “espionage”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details