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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RELATED WORDS
inquire, burrow, prospect, rummage, search, shovel, unearth, explore, dig, investigate, research, probe, examine, dredge, ransack, sift, seek, excavate, spade, trowel
Nearby words
Origin of delve
before 900; Middle English delven, Old English delfan; cognate with Dutch delven, Old High German telban
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for delving
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
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
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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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper