Sift (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sifted; p. pr. & vb. n. Sifting.] [AS. siftan, from sife sieve. &root;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.
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.
© Webster 1913.