n. [ OE. sight, siþt, siht, AS. siht, gesiht, gesihð, gesiehð, gesyhð; akin to D. gezicht, G. sicht, gesicht, Dan. sigte, Sw. sigt, from the root of E. see. See See, v. t. ] 1. The act of seeing; perception of objects by the eye; view; as, to gain sight of land. [ 1913 Webster ] A cloud received him out of their sight. Acts. i. 9. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. The power of seeing; the faculty of vision, or of perceiving objects by the instrumentality of the eyes. [ 1913 Webster ] Thy sight is young,
And thou shalt read when mine begin to dazzle. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] O loss of sight, of thee I most complain! Milton. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. The state of admitting unobstructed vision; visibility; open view; region which the eye at one time surveys; space through which the power of vision extends; as, an object within sight. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. A spectacle; a view; a show; something worth seeing. [ 1913 Webster ] Moses said, I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. Ex. iii. 3. [ 1913 Webster ] They never saw a sight so fair. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ] 5. The instrument of seeing; the eye. [ 1913 Webster ] Why cloud they not their sights? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] 6. Inspection; examination; as, a letter intended for the sight of only one person. [ 1913 Webster ] 7. Mental view; opinion; judgment; as, in their sight it was harmless. Wake. [ 1913 Webster ] That which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. Luke xvi. 15. [ 1913 Webster ] 8. A small aperture or optical device through which objects are to be seen, and by which their direction is settled or ascertained; -- used on surveying instruments; as, the sight of a quadrant. [ 1913 Webster ] Thier eyes of fire sparking through sights of steel. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] 9. An optical device or small piece of metal, fixed or movable, on the breech, muzzle, center, or trunnion of a gun, or on the breech and the muzzle of a rifle, pistol, etc., by means of which the eye is guided in aiming. A telescope mounted on a weapon, such as a rifle, and used for accurate aiming at distant targets is called a telescopic sight. Farrow. [ 1913 Webster ] 10. In a drawing, picture, etc., that part of the surface, as of paper or canvas, which is within the frame or the border or margin. In a frame or the like, the open space, the opening. [ 1913 Webster ] 11. A great number, quantity, or sum; as, a sight of money. [ Now colloquial ] [ 1913 Webster ] ☞ Sight in this last sense was formerly employed in the best usage. “A sight of lawyers.” Latimer. [ 1913 Webster ] A wonder sight of flowers. Gower. [ 1913 Webster ]
At sight, as soon as seen, or presented to sight; as, a draft payable at sight: to read Greek at sight; to shoot a person at sight. --
Front sight (Firearms), the sight nearest the muzzle. --
Open sight. (Firearms) (a) A front sight through which the objects aimed at may be seen, in distinction from one that hides the object. (b) A rear sight having an open notch instead of an aperture. --
Peep sight,
Rear sight. See under Peep, and Rear. --
Sight draft, an order, or bill of exchange, directing the payment of money at sight. --
To take sight, to take aim; to look for the purpose of directing a piece of artillery, or the like. [ 1913 Webster ]
Syn. -- Vision; view; show; spectacle; representation; exhibition. [ 1913 Webster ] | 
