Category:Sift

Sift, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sifted; p. pr. & vb. n. Sifting.] Etym: [as. siftan, from sife sieve. sq. root151a. 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.

2. To separate or part as if with a sieve. When yellow sands are sifted from below, the glittering billows give A golden show. Dryden.

3. To examine critically or minutely; to scrutinize. Sifting the very utmost sentence and syllable. Hooker. Opportunity i here have had to try thee, sift thee. Milton. Let him but narrowly sift his ideas. I. Taylor. To sift out, to search out with care, as if by sifting.