sift
English
Etymology
From Old English siftan (“to sift”). Cognate with Dutch ziften (“to sift”) and also English sieve.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /sɪft/
Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -ɪft
Verb
sift (third-person singular simple present sifts, present participle sifting, simple past and past participle sifted)
- To sieve or strain (something).
- To separate or scatter (things) as if by sieving.
- To examine (something) carefully.
- 1748. David Hume. Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral. London: Oxford University Press, 1973. § 28.
- But if we still carry on our sifting humour, and ask, What is the foundation of all conclusions from experience ? this implies a new question.
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- It immediately occurred to him to sift her on the subject of Isabella and Theodore.
- 1748. David Hume. Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral. London: Oxford University Press, 1973. § 28.
Derived terms
Translations
to sieve or strain (something)
|
to separate or scatter (things) as if by sieving
|
to examine (something) carefully
Anagrams
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