the.com/spying
The ancient art of finding out what people would rather you didn't.
means Secretly gathering information about someone or something, usually without permission and often with consequences.
from From Old French espier, to watch, sharing roots with espy and spice-trade snoops; the word itself crept in unnoticed, which feels right.
Oldest profession?Espionage predates writing; Sun Tzu devoted a chapter to it.
Bible cameoMoses sent twelve spies into Canaan.
Spy plantSome governments hid microphones in real potted ferns.