Sīght1, n.
(sīt), n. [A-S. siht, gesiht, O. H. Ger. siht, gasiht, N. H. Ger. sicht, gesicht, D. gezigt, Dan. & Sw. sigte, from the root of see, q. v.]
Sense 1. The act of seeing; perception of objects by the eye; view; as, to gain sight of land.
A cloud received him out of their sight. Acts i. 9.
Sense 2. The power of seeing; the faculty of vision, or of perceiving objects by the instrumentality of the eyes.
Thy sight is young, and thou shalt read. Shak.
O loss of sight, of thee I most complain. Milton.
Sense 3. The state of admitting unobstructed vision; visibility; open view; region which the eye at one time surveys; space to which the power of vision extends; as, an object within sight.
Sense 4. That which is seen; a spectacle; a view; a show.
Moses said, I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not burned. Ex. iii. 3.
They never saw a sight so fair. Spenser.
Sense 5. Inspection; examination; as, a letter intended for the sight of only one person.
Sense 6. The instrument of seeing; the eye.
In his sight, his foe good Raimund hit. Fairfax.
Sense 7. A small aperture through which objects are to be seen, and by which the direction is settled or ascertained; as, the sight of a quadrant.
Sense 8. A piece of metal near the muzzle, or another near the breech, of a musket, or other fire-arm, to guide the eye in taking aim.
Sense 9. A great number, quantity, or sum; as, a sight of money. [Colloq. Eng. and U. S.]
To take sight, to take aim; to look for the purpose of directing a piece of artillery, or the like.—At sight, after sight (Bills and Notes), on or after presentment.
Synonyms—Vision; view; show; spectacle; representation; exhibition.