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.
Delve of convenient depth your thrashing floor. Dryden.
2. To dig into; to penetrate; to trace out; to fathom.
I can not delve him to the root. Shak.