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sieve

(sĭv)

A utensil of wire mesh or closely perforated metal or plastic, used for straining, sifting, ricing, or puréeing.

v. sieved, siev·ing, sieves

v.tr.

To pass through a sieve.

v.intr.

To use a sieve; sift.

[Middle English sive, from Old English sife.]

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sieve

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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