Sift, v. t.

v. t. [imp. & p. p. SIFTED; p. pr. & vb. n. SIFTING.] [A-S. siftan, from sife, sieve; L. Ger. siften, seven, D. ziften, Ger. sieben, sichten.]

1. To separate by a sieve, as the fine part of a substance from the coarse; as, to sift meal; to sift powder; to sift sand or lime.
2. To separate or part as if by a sieve.

When yellow sands are sifted from below. The glittering billows give a golden show. Dryden. 3. To separate the good or bad of; to analyze; to pick to pieces; hence, to scrutinize; to detect in error. I could sift him on that argument. Shak. Let him but narrowly sift his ideas. I. Taylor. To sift out, to search or find out with care, as if by sifting.