delve
- 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.
- Archaic. to dig; excavate.
Origin of delve
Synonyms for delve
Examples from the Web for delver
Historical Examples of delver
It has been the delver of its own channel through the barrier of the Kirchet.
Fragments of science, V. 1-2John Tyndall
Frost was the agent, ice was his delver, water his carrier, and the basin of Lake Ontario his dumping-ground.
The Falls of Niagara and Other Famous CataractsGeorge W. Holley
Idler on its modern surface, or delver in its deep-hearted past, could he reconcile himself to it?
Indian SummerWilliam D. Howells
Any comparison between the material comfort of a Kentucky slave and an English ditcher and delver would be preposterous.
North America, Volume II (of 2)Anthony Trollope
At this point the farmer slipped, the hedge rustled, and the delver fled away.
Studies in the Out-Lying Fields of Psychic ScienceHudson Tuttle
delve
- 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
Word Origin for delve
Word Origin and History for delver
delve
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.