[sift] vb [ME, fr. OE siftan; akin to OE sife sieve] vt (bef. 12c) 1 a: to put through a sieve "~ flour" b: to separate or separate out by or as if by putting through a sieve
2: to go through esp. to sort out what is useful or valuable "~ed the evidence"--often used with through "~ through a pile of old letters"
3: to scatter by or as if by sifting "~ sugar on a cake" ~ vi 1: to use a sieve
2: to pass or fall as if through a sieve -- sift.er n