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Sift vs Snift - What's the difference?

sift | snift |

As verbs the difference between sift and snift

is that sift is to sieve or strain (something) while snift is to snort.

As a noun snift is

(uk|dialect) a moment.

sift

English

Verb

  • To sieve or strain (something).
  • To separate or scatter (things) as if by sieving.
  • To examine (something) carefully.
  • * 1748 . David Hume. Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral. London: Oxford University Press, 1973. ยง 28.
    • But if we still carry on our sifting humour, and ask, What is the foundation of all conclusions from experience ? this implies a new question.
  • * {{quote-book
    • , year=1764 , author= , title= , pageurl=http://www.gutenberg.org/files/696/696-h/696-h.htm , page= , publisher=}}
    It immediately occurred to him to sift her on the subject of Isabella and Theodore.

    Derived terms

    * sifter

    Anagrams

    * *

    snift

    English

    Etymology 1

    Noun

  • (UK, dialect) A moment.
    • (Halliwell)
  • (UK, dialect, uncountable) Slight snow; sleet.
    • (Halliwell)

    Etymology 2

    From sniff.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To snort.
  • * Johnson
    • resentment expressed by snifting
  • To sniff; to snuff; to smell.
  • * Landor
    • It now appears that they were still snifting and hankering after their old quarters.
    (Webster 1913)