eavesdropper


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eaves·drop

 (ēvz′drŏp′)
intr.v. eaves·dropped, eaves·drop·ping, eaves·drops
1. To listen secretly to the private conversation of others.
2. To gain access to private electronic communications, as through wiretapping or the interception of email or cell phone calls.

[Probably back-formation from eavesdropper, one who eavesdrops, from Middle English evesdropper, from evesdrop, place where water falls from the eaves, from Old English yfesdrype; see upo in Indo-European roots.]

eaves′drop′per n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.eavesdropper - a secret listener to private conversations
attender, auditor, hearer, listener - someone who listens attentively
snoop, snooper - a spy who makes uninvited inquiries into the private affairs of others
phone tapper, wiretapper, tapper - someone who wiretaps a telephone or telegraph wire
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
مُتَنَصِّت
aflytter
hallgató zó
sá sem liggur á hleri
kto tajne počúva
gizlice dinleyen kimse

eavesdropper

[ˈiːvzˌdrɒpəʳ] Nfisgón(ona) m/f (que escucha conversaciones a escondidas)
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

eavesdropper

[ˈiːvzdrɒpər] noreille f indiscrète
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

eavesdropper

nLauscher(in) m(f)
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

eavesdropper

[ˈiːvzˌdrɒpəʳ] nchi origlia
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

eavesdrop

(ˈiːvzdrop) past tense, past participle ˈeavesdropped verb
(with on) to listen in order to overhear a private conversation. The child eavesdropped on her parents' discussion.
ˈeavesdropper noun
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
References in classic literature ?
When Love and Beauty meet, it is hard not to play the eavesdropper, and it was easy to guess that Love and Beauty met upon that page.
Dominic and I had been talking business together aft, and Cesar had sneaked up behind us to listen, for, amongst his other perfections, he was a consummate eavesdropper and spy.
Thrown out of his honourable employment in England, through too much unsuccessful hard swearing there--not because he was not wanted there; our English reasons for vaunting our superiority to secrecy and spies are of very modern date--he knew that he had crossed the Channel, and accepted service in France: first, as a tempter and an eavesdropper among his own countrymen there: gradually, as a tempter and an eavesdropper among the natives.
“Well, well, be attentive,” continued Richard, looking cautiously about him, to make certain that no eavesdropper was hid in the forest, though they were in constant motion.
A fierce growl repelled the eavesdropper, and then the scout boldly threw open the covering of bark, and left the place, enacting the character of a bear as he proceeded.
'Silence, eavesdropper!' cried Catherine; 'none of your insolence before me!
"Whatever you do, you can't help working with a Will," cried Tom, who had been so interested, that he forgot he was playing eavesdropper.
Franklin were thinking aloud, and putting him into the delicate position of an unwilling eavesdropper. But there was in the mess-room another listener.
'As to Rokesmith, that young man of mine,' said Mr Boffin, dropping his voice and glancing towards the door with an apprehension of being overheard by some eavesdropper there, 'it's the same with him as with the footmen.
"And what did you think of this fine story, eavesdropper?" said Monte Cristo; "did you credit it?"
Let me know that no eavesdropper has heard my life's secret.
The eavesdroppers heard certain girls disputing, one of them saying that Aias was by far a better man than Odysseus and continuing as follows: