Delve (?) v. 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.
Delve of convenient depth your thrashing floo
Dryden.
2.
To dig into; to penetrate; to trace out; to fathom.
I can not delve him to the root.
Shak.
© Webster 1913.
Delve, v. i.
To dig or labor with a spade, or as with a spade; to labor as a drudge.
Delve may I not: I shame to beg.
Wyclif (Luke xvi. 3).
© Webster 1913.
Delve, n. [See Delve, v. t., and cf. Delf a mine.]
A place dug; a pit; a ditch; a den; a cave.
Which to that shady delve him brought at last
penser.
The very tigers from their delves
Look out.
Moore.
© Webster 1913.