snoop

Etymology

From Dutch snoepen (“to pry, eat in secret, sneak”). Related to Dutch and Low German snappen (“to bite, seize”), Dutch snavel (“beak, bill, pecker, neb”), German Schnabel (“beak, bill, mouth”). More at snap.

verb

1. To be devious and cunning so as not to be seen.
2. To secretly spy on or investigate, especially into the private personal life of others.
   If I had not snooped on her, I wouldn't have found out that she lied about her degree.

noun

1. The act of snooping
2. One who snoops
   Be careful what you say around Gene because he's the bosses' snoop.
3. A private detective
   She hired a snoop to find out if her husband was having an affair.