Observed with two bridge players – like a piper? (6)
I believe the answer is:
espied
'observed' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with perception as well as being past participle verbs.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I don't see?
'with two bridge players like a piper?' is the wordplay.
'two bridge players' can mean two replacements for 'bridge player'.
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'bridge player' becomes 'e' (bridge players are North, East, South, West).
'bridge player' becomes 'S' (bridge players are North, East, South, West).
'like a piper?' becomes 'pied' (I've seen this in another clue).
'e' next to 's' is 'es'.
'es'+'pied'='ESPIED'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for espied that I've seen before include "observed in literature" , "Caught sight of (archaic)" , "Spotted; saw" , "Caught sight of (poetic)" , "Saw (archaic)" .)