Which to that shady delve him brought at last.
--Spenser.
[1913 Webster]
The very tigers from their delves Look out. --Moore. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
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 — I verb ask for, burrow, carry on intensive research, conduct an inquiry, dig down into, dig into, examine, explore, fathom, ferret out, fodere, follow the trail, go deep into, go in pursuit of, go in search of, go through, hold an inquiry, hunt… … Law dictionary
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
