delve Hear it!

delve Definition

delve (delv)

intransitive verb delved, delv′·ing

  1. Chiefly Brit., Now Dial. to dig with a spade
  2. to investigate for information; search (into books, the past, etc.)

Etymology: ME delven < OE delfan, to dig, akin to OHG (bi)telban, Du delven < IE base *dhelbh-, to dig out > Czech dlubu, to hollow out

transitive verb

Chiefly Brit., Now Dial. to dig or turn up (ground)

noun

Obsolete a den or pit dug out

delve Related Forms

delv′er noun

delve Synonyms

delve

v.

investigate, search, probe; see examine 1.

delve Usage Examples

Object

  • bit: Now it's time to delve a bit deeper and uncover some of Windows XP's secrets.
  • depth: A contact on the force delved the depths of the police computer.

Preposition: into

  • underworld: On a wickedly witty winter's night delve into the delightfully dark underworld of Holmes, Watson and their fiendish foes.
  • psyche: County's agony aunt sorts out the embarrassing problems carrying across the whole of County, and Sigmund Freud delves into the psyche.
  • recess: We may want to delve into the deeper recesses of the parent-child relationship.
  • mystery: We hope to delve into the mystery further in the future, including some of the many folk tales associated with them.
  • realm: This is where we delve into the realms of deep trance phenomena, the medium in which our creative activity takes place.
  • archives: Not content with over two years of research they are already delving into the archives for their next project.

Adjective complement

  • deep: Then is the time for delving deeper into the Bible.
  • further: I hope these examples whet your appetite for delving further into this annual report.

Modifying Another Word

  • deeply: Labor not keen to delve too deeply - claim.
  • deep: Some of the Soviet scholars had clearly been delving deep into the archives.
  • back: Don't want to delve back into the land that time forgot?
  • far: Neither the therapist nor the client needs to delve too far into the causes of the problems.
  • really: It seems that every time I really delve into some aspect of the evidence, it simply slips away.
  • then: And many a man in his own breast then delves, But deep enough, alas!

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • around: He began to delve around to try and find out about English traditional singing and Blaxhall Ship in particular.
  • down: However, we stopped short of delving down into some of the more esoteric looking aspects of Java Generics.

Infinitive complement

find: The further people have to delve to find things the less likely they are to bother.

Preposition: beneath

surface: I have written above that you should, in your practical work, ' try to delve beneath the surface of the signs ' .