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Digging Up the History of Delve
We must dig deep into the English language’s past to find the origins of delve. The verb traces to the early Old English word delfan meaning “to dig.” For centuries, there was only delving—no digging—because dig didn’t exist until much later; it appears in early Middle English. Given dig and delve’s overlapping meanings today, is the phrase “dig and delve” (as in the line “eleven, twelve, dig and delve,” from the nursery rhyme that begins “one, two, buckle my shoe”) redundant? Not necessarily. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, in some local uses, dig was the term for working with a mattock (a tool similar to an adze or a pick), while delve was reserved for work done using a spade. Although delve has a history of use for literal digging, nowadays the term is often applied to carefully researching or examining something, as in “delving into the past.”
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Examples of delve in a Sentence
Michael Collins, USA TODAY, 27 Nov. 2024
Our conversation delved into the evolving role of wine within hospitality, highlighting its ability to enhance dining experiences and foster connections.
—Noel Burgess, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
Buy Now 30 of 37 'The House of Hidden Meanings' by RuPaul
The Emmy Award-winning host of RuPaul's Drag Race delves into the ups and downs of his storied life, from his childhood in San Diego to the birth of his drag persona.
—Rachel Flynn, People.com, 24 Nov. 2024
His closing argument repeatedly delved into topics not admitted into evidence, drawing objections from prosecutors and, sometimes, scoldings from Boardman.
—Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 21 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Delve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/delve. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
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