The counterpart to "overheard" when reading?

Question

What is the counterpart to overheard, when I did not heard, but read something in passing? Overread is rather the opposite, namely

To read over, or peruse.

Possible alternatives I could think of are notice and found.

I don't believe there is a single word for this (that means almost nothing). The usual phrase is 'read over your/someone's shoulder'. — ElendilTheTall, Jul 10, 2014 at 14:02

Dan Bron · Accepted Answer · 2014-07-10 15:11:33Z

7

I would say "came across", as in:

I was reading the New York Times and came across an interesting piece on....

answered Jul 10, 2014 at 14:25

Dan Bron

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Community · Accepted Answer · 2020-06-15 07:40:02Z

4

Probably to glimpse may fit:

v.intr. To look briefly; glance: glimpsed at the headlines.

CommunityBot

1

answered Jul 10, 2014 at 14:05

user66974

Thanks, this is nice. Although it sounds a bit like to look briefly at something one intended to look at, at least to me - but I am no native speaker.
– miku
Jul 10, 2014 at 15:16
@miku - it can be used to indicate an intentional look at something, But it is often used for casual, brief or incomplete views of something. : to catch a glimpse of the sea.
– user66974
Jul 10, 2014 at 15:37

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vickyace · Accepted Answer · 2014-07-10 14:58:23Z

3

Espy - to catch sight of.

You can use it in several contexts.

I accidently espied a weird word while looking for a word in the dictionary.

I espied a new fact while turning the pages of her notebook.

answered Jul 10, 2014 at 14:58

vickyace

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Thanks for teaching me a new word. I think it suits the requirements well.
– miku
Jul 10, 2014 at 15:18

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3 Answers 3