[delve] vb delved ; delv.ing [ME, fr. OE delfan; akin to OHG telban to dig] vt (bef. 12c) archaic: excavate ~ vi 1: to dig or labor with or as if with a spade
2: to make a careful or detailed search for information "delved into the past" -- delv.er n
[2]delve n (14c) archaic: cave, hollow