Delve — Delve, n. [See {Delve}, v. t., and cf. {Delf} a mine.] A place dug; a pit; a ditch; a den; a cave. [1913 Webster] Which to that shady delve him brought at last. Spenser. [1913 Webster] The very tigers from their delves Look out. Moore. [1913… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Delve — Delvev. t. [imp. & p. p. {Delved}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Delving}.] [AS. delfan to dig; akin to OS. bidelban to bury, D. delven to dig, MHG. telben, and possibly to E. dale. Cf. {Delf} a mine.] 1. To dig; to open (the ground) as with a spade. [1913… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Delve — Delve, v. i. To dig or labor with a spade, or as with a spade; to labor as a drudge. [1913 Webster] Delve may I not: I shame to beg. Wyclif (Luke xvi. 3). [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
delve — [delv] v [: Old English; Origin: delfan [i] to dig ] 1.) to try to find more information about someone or something delve into ▪ research that delves deeply into this issue 2.) [always + adverb/preposition] to search for something by putting your … Dictionary of contemporary English
delve — [ delv ] verb intransitive 1. ) to look for information by searching through something thoroughly: This biography delves deep into the artist s private life. 2. ) to search for something in a bag, pocket, etc.: Frank delved into his pocket and… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
delve — O.E. delfan to dig (class III strong verb; past tense dealf, pp. dolfen), common W.Gmc. verb (Cf. O.S. delban, Du. delven, M.H.G. telben to dig ), from PIE root *dhelbh (Cf. Lith. delba crowbar, Rus. dolbit , Czech dlabati, Pol … Etymology dictionary
delve — *dig, spade, grub, excavate … New Dictionary of Synonyms
delve — [v] dig into task, action burrow, dig, dredge, examine, excavate, explore, ferret out*, go into, gouge out, inquire, investigate, jump into, leave no stone unturned*, look into, probe, prospect, ransack, really get into*, research, rummage, scoop … New thesaurus
delve — ► VERB 1) reach inside a receptacle and search for something. 2) research intensively into something. 3) literary dig or excavate. ORIGIN Old English … English terms dictionary
delve — [delv] vi. delved, delving [ME delven < OE delfan, to dig, akin to OHG (bi)telban, Du delven < IE base * dhelbh , to dig out > Czech dlubu, to hollow out] 1. [Now Dial., Chiefly Brit.] to dig with a spade 2. to investigate for… … English World dictionary
