i Register
In some senses, delve is marked as literary, figuratively, archaic. Watch for register when choosing this word.
delve
/dɛlv/
verb 3noun 1name 1
Collocations
5ADJ.
abstract, all, convenient, deeper, numerous, personal
VERB + DELVE
began, don't, films, time, top, tries, want
DELVE + NOUN
depth, possibilities, subtleties, themes, topic, topics
PREP.
into, on, with
ADV.
further, such
Definitions
verb
1
To dig into the ground, especially with a shovel.
Delve of convenient depth your thrashing floor.
I got a spade from the tool-house, and began to delve with all my might—it scraped the coffin; I fell to work with my hands; the wood commenced cracking about the screws; I was on the point of attaining my object, when it seemed that I heard a sigh from some one above, close at the edge of the grave, and bending down.
2
To dig; to excavate.
And then they made an oratory behind the altar, and would have dolven for to have laid the body in that oratory […]
They dolve a grave beneath the arrow / And covered it with brere.
3
To search thoroughly and carefully for information, research, dig into, penetrate, fathom, trace out
I cannot delve him to the root.
She was intensely eager to delve into the mystery of Mr. Joplin and his brief case.
noun
1
A pit or den.
the wise Merlin whylome wont (they say) / To make his wonne, low vnderneath the ground, / In a deepe delue, farre from the vew of day [...].
I put the clods on top the delve and gave it all a good thumping down with my feet.
name
1
A surname from Old English.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
verb — turn up, loosen, or remove earth
Antonyms
Idioms & Phrases
Example Bank
601
Delve of convenient depth your thrashing floor.
Wiktionary02
I got a spade from the tool-house, and began to delve with all my might—it scraped the coffin; I fell to work with my hands; the wood commenced cracking about the screws; I was on the point of attaini
Wiktionary03
He finds out, soon enough for his weal and his bane, that he is stronger than Nature: and right tyrannously and irreverently he lords it over her, clearing, delving, dyking, building, without fear or
Wiktionary04
the wise Merlin whylome wont (they say) / To make his wonne, low vnderneath the ground, / In a deepe delue, farre from the vew of day [...].
Wiktionary05
I put the clods on top the delve and gave it all a good thumping down with my feet.
Wiktionary06
A variety of films delve into such themes.
Tatoeba · #2074986Usage Notes
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