definitions

delve

[ delv ]
/ dɛlv /
||

verb (used without object), delved, delv·ing.

to carry on intensive and thorough research for data, information, or the like; investigate: to delve into the issue of prison reform.
Archaic. to dig, as with a spade.

verb (used with object), delved, delv·ing.

Archaic. to dig; excavate.

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Nearby words

delusory, delusterant, delustering, deluxe, delvaux, delve, dely., dem, dem., demagnetize, demagogic

Origin of delve

before 900; Middle English delven, Old English delfan; cognate with Dutch delven, Old High German telban
SYNONYMS FOR delve
1 research, inquire, probe, examine, explore.
Related formsdelv·er, nounun·delved, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for delver

British Dictionary definitions for delver

delve

/ (dɛlv) /

verb (mainly intr; often foll by in or into)

to inquire or research deeply or intensively (for information, etc)he delved in the Bible for quotations
to search or rummage (in a drawer, the pockets, etc)
(esp of an animal) to dig or burrow deeply (into the ground, etc)
(also tr) archaic, or dialect to dig or turn up (earth, a garden, etc), as with a spade
Derived Formsdelver, noun

Word Origin for delve

Old English delfan; related to Old High German telban to dig, Russian dolbit to hollow out with a chisel
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for delver

delve

v.

Old English delfan "to dig" (class III strong verb; past tense dealf, past participle dolfen), common West Germanic verb (cf. Old Saxon delban, Dutch delven, Middle High German telben "to dig"), from PIE root *dhelbh- (cf. Lithuanian delba "crowbar," Russian dolbit', Czech dlabati, Polish dłubać "to chisel;" Russian dolotó, Czech dlato, Polish dłuto "chisel"). Weak inflections emerged 14c.-16c. Related: Delved; delving.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper