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noun, masculine

espion

/ɛs.pjɔ̃/

noun, masculine/ɛs.pjɔ̃/plural: espions

spy (person who secretly watches)

Related: logiciel espion, espionnage, espionner

Inherited from Middle French *espion (attested only in the verb espionner), from Old French espion, spion (“one assigned to observe or spy”). Alternatively, derived from Old French espie (“spy”), under influence of Italian spione (“spy”). According to another theory, French espion is borrowed from Italian spione.