pry

PRY, verb intransitive [a contracted word, the origin of which is not obvious.] To peep narrowly; to inspect closely; to attempt to discover something with scrutinizing curiosity, whether impertinently or not; as, to pry into the mysteries of nature, or into the secrets of state. Nor need we with a prying eye survey The distant skies to find the milky way. PRY, noun Narrow inspection; impertinent peeping. PRY, verb transitive To raise or attempt to raise with a lever. This is the common popular pronunciation of prize, in America. The lever used is also called a pry