Sifted

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Sift \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.


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     2. To separate or part as if with a sieve.
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              When yellow sands are sifted from below,
              The glittering billows give a golden show. --Dryden.
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     3. To examine critically or minutely; to scrutinize.
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              Sifting the very utmost sentence and syllable.
                                                    --Hooker.
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              Opportunity I here have had
              To try thee, sift thee.               --Milton.
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              Let him but narrowly sift his ideas.  --I. Taylor.
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     {To sift out}, to search out with care, as if by sifting.
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