Definition of the word sift out

The phrase "sift out" originated from the process of separating small particles or powders from larger materials through a sieving or sifting action. The word "sift" itself comes from the Middle English "sesven" meaning "seven," which referred to the seven-sided frameworks used in medieval sieves. The original Old French verb "cesevre" encompassed both the act of sifting and the word for seven, as the number of openings in a medieval sieve was traditionally seven, symbolic of the seven deadly sins as specified in Christian doctrine. This connection to the number seven remains in modern European languages, where the word for sieve is often derived from "seven," such as the German "Sieb" and the Dutch "zeef." As the process of sifting became more refined and common in various industries, such as agriculture and food production, the expression "sift out" was coined to convey the idea of separating smaller, desirable elements from larger, undesired components. Today, the expression "sift out" is used in various contexts to describe a range of processes and procedures aimed at separating or eliminating unwanted materials or elements.