Pry
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pry¹
- /pɹaɪ/
Rhymes with -aɪ
Where it comes from
The verb is inherited from Middle English prien, pryen (“to look closely, peer into, pry, spy”) [and other forms], from Old English *prīwan, *prēowian (“to look narrowly, to squint at”), attested by Old English beprīwan, beprēwan (“to wink”); further etymology unknown, but probably akin to Old English *prēowot (“closing of the eyes”), attested only in combination – compare prēowthwīl (“blink or twinkling of an eye, moment”), princ (“a wink”): see prink.
The noun is derived from the verb.
verb pries · prying · pried
- To peer closely and curiously, especially at something closed or not public. [W]omen haue eagles eyes, / To prie euen to the heart, and why not you?
- To inquire into something that does not concern one; to be nosy; to snoop. Watch thou, and wake when others be aſleepe, / To prie into the ſecrets of the State, […]
- To peer at (something) closely; also, to look into (a matter, etc.) thoroughly. The two ship's corporals went among the sailors by the names of Leggs and Pounce; […] Bland, the master-at-arms, ravished with their dexterity in prying out offenders, used to call them his two right hands.
noun pries
- An act of prying; a close and curious look. With those beauties, scarce discern'd, / Kept with such sweet privacy, / That they seldom meet the eye / Of the little loves that fly / Round about with eager pry.
- A person who is very inquisitive or nosy; a busybody, a nosey parker.
pry²
- /pɹaɪ/
Rhymes with -aɪ
Where it comes from
The noun is probably a back-formation from prise, prize (“tool for levering, lever”), construed as the plural of pry.
The verb is either derived from the noun, or is a back-formation from prise (“to force open with a lever”), construed as pries, the third-person singular present form of pry.
noun pries
- A tool for levering; a crowbar, a lever.
verb pries · prying · pried
- To use leverage to open, raise, or widen (something); to prise or prize. "Oh! he's going home to Down East," said another; "so far eastward, you know, shippy, that they have to pry up the sun with a handspike."
- Usually followed by out (of): to draw out or get (information, etc.) with effort.
Pry³
Where it comes from
* As an Irish surname, spelling variant of Prey, from Ó Préith, probably from na préith (“of the cattle-spoil”) (compare Latin praeda (“plunder, booty”)).
* As a German surname, a spelling variant of Prey, from breu (“brew”); see brauen. Comparable to the surname Preyer.
proper noun Prys
- A surname.
