eavesdrop

• POS: Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: eaves=drop

CIDE DICTIONARY

eavesdrop, v. i. [Eaves + drop.].

 To stand under the eaves, near a window or at the door, of a house, to listen and learn what is said within doors; hence, to listen secretly to what is said in private.  [1913 Webster]
"To eavesdrop in disguises."  [1913 Webster]

eavesdrop, n. 

 The water which falls in drops from the eaves of a house.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

eavesdrop, v.intr. (-dropped, -dropping) listen secretly to a private conversation.

Derivative

eavesdropper n.

Etymology

eavesdropper orig. 'one who listens under walls' prob. f. ON upsardropi (cf. OE yf{aelig}sdryp{aelig}): eavesdrop by back-form.

DEVIL DICTIONARY

eavesdrop

v.i. Secretly to overhear a catalogue of the crimes and vices of another or yourself.

A lady with one of her ears applied
To an open keyhole heard, inside,
Two female gossips in converse free --
The subject engaging them was she.
"I think," said one, "and my husband thinks
That she's a prying, inquisitive minx!"
As soon as no more of it she could hear
The lady, indignant, removed her ear.
"I will not stay," she said, with a pout,
"To hear my character lied about!"
Gopete Sherany

THESAURUS

eavesdrop

attend, attend to, auscultate, be all ears, bend an ear, bug, cock the ears, examine by ear, give attention, give audience to, give ear, hark, hear, hear out, hearken, heed, intercept, lend an ear, listen, listen at, listen in, listen to, overhear, pry, sit in on, snoop, spy, tap, wiretap