Delve — Defs

01 v. t. To dig; to open (the ground) as with a spade.

imp. & p. p. Delved; p. pr. & vb. n. Delving

1.
To dig; to open (the ground) as with a spade.
“Delve of convenient depth your thrashing floor.” — Dryden.
2.
To dig into; to penetrate; to trace out; to fathom.
“I can not delve him to the root.” — Shak.

02 v. i. To dig or labor with a spade, or as with a spade; to labor as a drudge.

1.
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).

03 n. A place dug; a pit; a ditch; a den; a cave.

1.
A place dug; a pit; a ditch; a den; a cave.
“Which to that shady delve him brought at last.” — Spenser.

“The very tigers from their delves Look out.” — Moore.