Eavesdrop vs Pry - What's the difference?
eavesdrop | pry |
(senseid)To hear a conversation one is not intended to hear; to listen in.
The dripping of rain from the eaves of a house
The space around a house on which such water drips
A concealed aperture through which an occupant of a building can surreptitiously listen to people talking at an entrance to the building
The act of intentionally hearing a conversation not intended to be heard
To look where one is not welcome; to be nosey.
To look closely and curiously at.
* Shakespeare
The act of prying
An excessively inquisitive person
A lever.
Leverage.
To use leverage to open or widen. (See also prise and prize.)
As verbs the difference between eavesdrop and pry
is that eavesdrop is (to hear a conversation one is not intended to hear)To hear a conversation one is not intended to hear; to listen in while pry is to look where one is not welcome; to be nosey.As nouns the difference between eavesdrop and pry
is that eavesdrop is the dripping of rain from the eaves of a house while pry is the act of prying.eavesdrop
English
Verb
(eavesdropp)- I hope nobody was eavesdropping on our conversation last night, since it got so personal.
Usage notes
To eavesdrop usually implies the listener is purposefully trying to hear the conversation of others. To (overhear) is more often accidental.Synonyms
* (hear conversation one is not intended to hear) overhearDerived terms
* eavesdropperNoun
(en noun)Synonyms
* eavesdrippry
English
Etymology 1
From (etyl) pryen, . More at (l).Verb
(en-verb)- Watch thou and wake when others be asleep, / To pry into the secrets of the state.
