Espy means:
* To catch sight of, especially something difficult to see or unexpected.
* To see or discover (something) unexpectedly or by chance.
Examples:
* "The hiker espied a rare wildflower hidden amongst the rocks."
* "The detective espied a suspicious figure lurking in the shadows."
Synonyms:
* See
* Spot
* Notice
* Discover
* Detect
* Catch sight of
Note: "Espied" is a relatively formal word, not commonly used in everyday speech. It's often found in literature and poetry.