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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

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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Delve \Delve\, v. i.
To dig or labor with a spade, or as with a spade; to labor as
a drudge.
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Delve may I not: I shame to beg. --Wyclif (Luke
xvi. 3).
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Delve \Delve\, n. [See {Delve}, v. t., and cf. {Delf} a mine.]
A place dug; a pit; a ditch; a den; a cave.
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Which to that shady delve him brought at last.
--Spenser.
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The very tigers from their delves
Look out. --Moore.
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Delf \Delf\ (d[e^]lf), n. [AS. delf a delving, digging. See
{Delve}.]
A mine; a quarry; a pit dug; a ditch. [Written also {delft},
and {delve}.] [Obs.]
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The delfts would be so flown with waters, that no gins
or machines could . . . keep them dry. --Ray.
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