GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English
last match results
Found one definition
-
Sift (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sifted; p. pr. & vb. n. Sifting.] [AS. siftan, from sife sieve. √151a. See Sieve.]
1. To separate with a sieve, as the fine part of a substance from the coarse; as, “to sift meal or flour; to sift powder; to sift sand or lime.”
[1913 Webster]
2. To separate or part as if with a sieve.
[1913 Webster]
When yellow sands are sifted from below,
The glittering billows give a golden show. Dryden.
[1913 Webster]
3. To examine critically or minutely; to scrutinize.
[1913 Webster]
Sifting the very utmost sentence and syllable. Hooker.
[1913 Webster]
Opportunity I here have had
To try thee, sift thee. Milton.
[1913 Webster]
Let him but narrowly sift his ideas. I. Taylor.
[1913 Webster]
To sift out, to search out with care, as if by sifting.
[1913 Webster]