SIFT

sift. Sift, v.t. to put through a sieve, part, evamin, try

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Sift (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sifted; p. pr. & vb. n. Sifting.] [[AS. siftan, from sife sieve. √151a. See Sieve.]] 1. 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. 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. 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.