delve

views updated May 14 2018

delve / delv/ • v. [intr.] reach inside a receptacle and search for something: she delved in her pocket. ∎  research or make inquiries into something: delving into the atom's secrets. ∎  [tr.] poetic/lit. dig; excavate.DERIVATIVES: delv·er n.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

delve

views updated May 29 2018

delve dig, lit. and fig. (dial. and lit.). OE. delfan str. vb. = OS. bidelƀan (Du. delven), OHG. bitelban :- WGmc. *delƀ- *dalƀ- *dulƀ-. The weak form of the pt. appeared in XIV and of the pp. in XVI.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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