— sightable , adj. — sighter , n.
/suyt/ , n.
1. the power or faculty of seeing; perception of objects by use of the eyes; vision.
2. an act, fact, or instance of seeing.
3. one's range of vision on some specific occasion: Land is in sight.
4. a view; glimpse.
5. mental perception or regard; judgment.
6. something seen or worth seeing; spectacle: the sights of London.
7. Informal. something unusual, surprising, shocking, or distressing: They were a sight after the fight.
8. Com.
a. presentation of a bill of exchange: a draft payable at two months after sight.
b. a showing of goods, esp. gems, held periodically for wholesalers.
9. Older Use. a multitude; great deal: It's a sight better to work than to starve.
10. an observation taken with a surveying, navigating, or other instrument to ascertain an exact position or direction.
11. any of various mechanical or optical viewing devices, as on a firearm or surveying instrument, for aiding the eye in aiming.
12. Obs. skill; insight.
13. at first sight , at the first glimpse; at once: It was love at first sight.
14. at sight ,
a. immediately upon seeing, esp. without referring elsewhere for assurance, further information, etc.: to translate something at sight.
b. Com. on presentation: a draft payable at sight.
15. catch sight of , to get a glimpse of; espy: We caught sight of the lake below.
16. know by sight , to recognize (a person or thing) seen previously: I know him by sight, but I know nothing about him.
17. not by a long sight , Informal. definitely not: Is that all? Not by a long sight.
18. on or upon sight , immediately upon seeing: to shoot him on sight; to recognize someone on sight.
19. out of sight ,
a. beyond one's range of vision.
b. Informal. beyond reason; exceedingly high: The price is out of sight.
c. Slang. (often used interjectionally) fantastic; marvelous: a ceremony so glamorous it was out of sight.
20. sight for sore eyes , someone or something whose appearance on the scene is cause for relief or gladness.
21. sight unseen , without previous examination: to buy something sight unseen.
v.t.
22. to see, glimpse, notice, or observe: to sight a ship to the north.
23. to take a sight or observation of (a stake, coastline, etc.), esp. with surveying or navigating instruments.
24. to direct or aim by a sight or sights, as a firearm.
25. to provide with sights or adjust the sights of, as a gun.
v.i.
26. to aim or observe through a sight.
27. to look carefully in a certain direction.
[ bef. 950; ME (n.); OE sihth (more often gesihth, gesiht; c. G Gesicht face; cf. Y-), deriv. of seon to SEE 1 ; see -TH 1 ]