English Explanatory Dictionary

espionage

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The act or process of learning secret information through clandestine means.

Pronunciation

/ˈɛs.pi.əˌnɑːʒ/ ĕsʹ-pē-ə-näzh LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-espionage.wav -năzh -nizh

Word forms

espionage espionages

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.

Synonyms

spying

Related words

tradecraft spycraft spywork

Derived words

antiespionage counterespionage counter-espionage cyberespionage espiocrat industrial espionage lexpionage nonespionage sexpionage
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