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
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comRelated Words for delving
inquire, burrow, prospect, rummage, search, shovel, unearth, explore, dig, investigate, research, probe, examine, dredge, ransack, sift, seek, excavate, spade, trowelExamples from the Web for delving
Contemporary Examples of delving
Delving deeper into this despair, photographs of “The Forgotten Ones” examine the lives of various groups of Latin American women.
Delving into why this slaughter never happened uncovers a story of spy-craft, subterfuge and tightly-kept secrets.
By delving into her own experience, Carucci was able to examine more deeply the universality of motherhood.
I worked with Ann Roth as well, and it was the same approach to delving beneath the material.
Telling too much or delving too deep, would turn it into a drama.
Shirley MacLaine on ‘Bernie,’ ‘Downton Abbey,’ and Her Lifetime AchievmentsLorenza Muñoz
April 25, 2012
Historical Examples of delving
"Don't let her kid you, Barry," advised Cousin Jim, delving into his lobster.
The Innocent AdventuressMary Hastings Bradley
Spent all day plowing the low meadow, Peter delving potatoes.
A Son of HagarSir Hall Caine
There, too, in the dim background, a weird shape is ever delving.
The Biglow PapersJames Russell Lowell
We were not delving deeply, not by any means—just picking off the nuggets, as it were.
Dwellers in ArcadyAlbert Bigelow Paine
I was cast forth from my order because of my delving in black magic.
The Hour of the DragonRobert E. Howard
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 delving
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.