Sift
/sɪft/noun
To separate fine particles from coarse ones by passing through a sieve, or to examine something carefully.
Did you know?The word is ancient: it goes back to Proto-Indo-European roots for sieving, and its close relatives include words for a sieve, a strainer, and even the act of cleansing by separation.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sebʰ-
“to pour, sift, strain”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*sipaną
“to sift, strain”
Old English
English
siftan
“to sift, strain, separate”
Middle English
English
siften
“to sift, examine carefully”
Modern English
English
sift
“to separate fine matter from coarse matter, or to examine closely”