(n.) The habit of lurking about dwelling houses, and other places where persons meet fro private intercourse, secretly listening to what is said, and then tattling it abroad. The offense is indictable at common law.
Thesaurus Entries
NB, TLC, absorption, acclaim, act of courtesy, acuity, acuteness, agility, alertness, amenity, anticipation, application, assiduity, attentions, attentiveness, audibility, audience, audition, aural examination, aural sense, auscultation, awareness, benignity, brightness, bugging, care, carefulness, caution, circumspection, circumspectness, civility, cognizance, concentration, concern, conference, consciousness, considerateness, consideration, courtesy, debate, deference, deliberation, devoirs, diligence, distinction, duties, eager attention, ear, eavesdropping, egards, electronic surveillance, engrossment, examination by ear, favor, favorable attention, forethought, gallantry, graceful gesture, hearing, heed, heedfulness, heeding, homage, honor, hushed attention, immersion, industry, intentness, interview, keenness, kindliness, limelight, listening, listening in, loving care, mark, mind, mindfulness, nimbleness, note, notice, notoriety, observance, observation, polite act, preparedness, prominence, promptitude, promptness, publicity, punctuality, quickness, rapt attention, readiness, regard, regardfulness, regards, remark, respects, reverence, sedulity, sedulousness, sense of hearing, sensibility, sharpness, sleeplessness, smartness, solicitude, study, tender loving care, thoughtfulness, tryout, urbanity, wakefulness, wiretapping
