Lift (lĭft), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Lifted; p. pr. & vb. n.Lifting.] [Icel. lypta, fr. lopt air; akin to Sw. lyfta to lift, Dan. löfte, G. lüften; — prop., to raise into the air. See Loft, and cf. 1st Lift.] 1. To move in a direction opposite to that of gravitation; to raise; to elevate; to bring up from a lower place to a higher; to upheave; sometimes implying a continued support or holding in the higher place; — said of material things; as, to lift the foot or the hand; to lift a chair or a burden.
2. To raise, elevate, exalt, improve, in rank, condition, estimation, character, etc.; — often with up.
The Roman virtues lift up mortal man. Addison.
Lest, being lifted up with pride. 1 Tim. iii. 6.
3. To bear; to support. Spenser.
4. To collect, as moneys due; to raise.
5. [Perh. a different word, and akin to Goth. hliftus thief, hlifan to steal, L. clepere, Gr. κλέπτειν. Cf. Shoplifter.] To steal; to carry off by theft (esp. cattle); as, to lift a drove of cattle.
☞ In old writers, lift is sometimes used for lifted.
He ne'er lift up his hand but conquered. Shak.
To lift up, to raise or elevate; in the Scriptures, specifically, to elevate upon the cross. John viii. 28. — To lift up the eyes. To look up; to raise the eyes, as in prayer. Ps. cxxi. 1. — To lift up the feet, to come speedily to one's relief. Ps. lxxiv. 3. — To lift up the hand. (a) To take an oath. Gen. xiv. 22. (b) To pray. Ps. xxviii. 2. (c) To engage in duty. Heb. xii. 12. — To lift up the hand against, to rebel against; to assault; to attack; to injure; to oppress. Job xxxi. 21. — To lift up one's head, to cause one to be exalted or to rejoice. Gen. xl. 13. Luke xxi. 28. — To lift up the heel against, to treat with insolence or unkindness. John xiii. 18. — To lift up the voice, to cry aloud; to call out. Gen. xxi. 16.