from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Delve \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.
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Delve of convenient depth your thrashing floor.
--Dryden.
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2. To dig into; to penetrate; to trace out; to fathom.
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I can not delve him to the root. --Shak.
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