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.

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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)