sight

sight [sīt]

n.

[ME siht < OE (ge)siht < base of seon, to SEE¹]

1.

a) something seen; view

b) a remarkable or spectacular view; spectacle

c) a thing worth seeing usually used in pl. [the sights of the city]

2. the act of seeing; perception by the eyes

3. a view; look; glimpse

4. any of various devices used to aid the eyes in lining up a gun, optical instrument, etc. on its objective

5. aim or an observation taken with mechanical aid, as on a sextant or gun

6. the faculty or power of seeing; vision; eyesight

7. mental vision or perception

8. range or field of vision

9. mental view; opinion; judgment [a hero in our sight]

10. Informal any person or thing of a strikingly unpleasant or unusual appearance

11. Dial. a large amount; great deal [a sight better than fighting]

12. obs. var. of INSIGHT

vt.

1. to observe or examine by taking a sight

2. to catch sight of; see

☆ 3. to bring into the sights of a rifle, etc.; aim at

4.

a) to furnish with sights or a sighting device

b) to adjust the sights of

5. to aim (a gun, etc.) using the sights

vi.

1. to take aim or an observation with a sight

2. to look carefully in a specified direction [sight along the line]

adj.

1. read, done, understood, etc. quickly and easily as soon as seen

☆ 2. due or payable when presented [a sight draft]

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a sight for sore eyes

Informal a person or thing that is pleasant to see; welcome sight

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at first sight

when seen or considered for the first time

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at sight or on sight

1. when or as soon as seen

2. Commerce upon demand or presentation

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by sight

by appearance; by recognizing but not through being acquainted

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catch sight of

1. to make out by means of the eyes; discern; see

2. to see briefly; glimpse

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lose sight of

1. to fail to keep in sight; see no longer

2. to fail to keep in mind; forget

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not by a long sight

1. not nearly

2. not at all

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out of sight

1. not in sight

2. far off; remote

3. Informal beyond reach; unattainable; extremely high, as in standards, price, etc.

4. Slang excellent; wonderful

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out of sight of

1. not in sight

2. not close or near to; remote from

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sight unseen

without seeing (the thing mentioned) beforehand