delve
    v 1: turn up, loosen, or remove earth; "Dig we must"; "turn over
         the soil for aeration" [syn: dig, delve, cut into,
         turn over]

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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