delve

1 of 2

verb

ˈdelv 

delved; delving

transitive verb

archaic : excavate

intransitive verb

1

: to dig or labor with or as if with a spade

delved into her handbag in search of a pen

2

a

: to make a careful or detailed search for information

delved into the past

b

: to examine a subject in detail

the book delves into the latest research

won't delve into her reason for leaving

delver noun

delve

2 of 2

noun

archaic

: cave, hollow

Did you know?

Digging Up the History of Delve

We must dig deep into the English language’s past to find the origins of delve. The verb traces to the early Old English word delfan meaning “to dig.” For centuries, there was only delving—no digging—because dig didn’t exist until much later; it appears in early Middle English. Given dig and delve’s overlapping meanings today, is the phrase “dig and delve” (as in the line “eleven, twelve, dig and delve,” from the nursery rhyme that begins “one, two, buckle my shoe”) redundant? Not necessarily. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, in some local uses, dig was the term for working with a mattock (a tool similar to an adze or a pick), while delve was reserved for work done using a spade. Although delve has a history of use for literal digging, nowadays the term is often applied to carefully researching or examining something, as in “delving into the past.”

Synonyms

Verb

• dig (into)
• examine
• explore
• inquire (into)
• investigate
• look (into)
• probe
• research

Noun

• antre
• cave
• cavern
• grot
• grotto

Examples of delve in a Sentence

Verb

He tried to delve inside his memory for clues about what had happened.

Noun

a poem in which a medieval knight encounters a mysterious beauty in a darkened delve

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The book delves into the history of spaceflight—including the prior Apollo 1 tragedy—that led up to Challenger’s fatal mission. —Joe Spring, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Dec. 2024

The script delves into the universal themes of coming of age as well as the challenges of aging. —Robert Lang, Deadline, 6 Dec. 2024

The show delves into themes of trauma, technology, and transformation, offering an immersive experience that questions humanity’s future. —Okla Jones, Essence, 6 Dec. 2024

Every year, users of the music app are invited to delve into an analysis of their listening habits, with their favorite artists sometimes thanking them for their support via a clip that pops up. —Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 6 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English, from Old English delfan; akin to Old High German telban to dig

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

delve

verb

ˈdelv

delved; delving

1

: to dig or labor with a spade

2

: to make a careful or thorough search for information

delver noun