| 释义 |
▪ I. nigh, adv., a., and n.|naɪ|
Forms: α. 1 néah, (néaᵹ-), néh, 2 neoh, 3 næh; 2–4 neh, 3 nehȝ, 3–4 nehi; 3–5 neȝ, (3 neȝt, 4 neȝh, neeȝh), 4–5 neȝe, negh(e; 3 (5–6 Sc.) ne, 6 nee. β. 3–4 neih, (3 neiþ, 4 neich), nei, (4 neie), 3–5 neiȝ, (4 neiȝe), 4 neigh(e, 6 neight; 3 neyh, 4–6 ney(e, 4 neythe, 5 neyhe, neygh, neyȝt. γ. 4 niȝ, nieȝ, nyeȝ, nyh(e, 4–5 nyȝ(e, 4–6 nyghe, (4 nyȝghe, 6 nygghe), 4–7 nygh, (6 nyght); 4–6 nighe, 4– nigh; 4–6 ny(e, 6–7 nie.
[Common Teutonic: OE. néah, néh = OFris. nei, nî, MDu. na, nae (Du. na), OS. nâh (MLG. nâge, nâ), OHG. nâh adv., nâher adj. (MHG. nâ, nâh-, nâch, G. nah), ON. ná- (in combs. like ná-búi neighbour; Sw. and Da. na-), Goth. nêhwa (nêhw): the stem appears to be unrepresented outside Teutonic.
OHG. is the only one of the older languages in which a fully developed adjectival use of the word exists along with the adverbial. In OE. there are very scanty traces of adjectival inflexion, néah being commonly employed either as a simple adv. or with a dependent dative: in predicative use it may sometimes be taken as an adjective, but it is more probable that in such cases also it is an adverb. It is not till the 14th or 15th cent. that the attributive use becomes common.
The original comparative of néah as an adv. is néar, néor, near adv.1, while the adj. form néarra finally became ner, nar a. The OE. superlative níęhst(a is latterly represented by next a. and adv. After phonetic changes had obscured the relationship of these forms to the positive, a new compar. and superl., nigher and nighest, were formed, and have been in common use since the 16th cent.]
= near adv.2 and a. (which in all senses has taken the place of nigh except in archaic or dialect use).
*Denoting proximity in place, time, etc.
I. adv. With dependent dative (passing into prep.), or followed by to (see 4).
1. With verbs of motion, denoting approach to a place, thing, or person.
Beowulf 2290 He to forð ᵹestop dyrnan cræfte dracan heafde neah. c950Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. xv. 29 And mið ðy oferfoerde ðona ðe hælend, cuom [he] æt vel neh sæ. a1000Juliana 635 (Gr.), Ða wæs [heo] ᵹelæded londmearce neah. c1205Lay. 1609 Alle heo slowen þat heo neih comen. a1300Cursor M. 8041 Whenne þe kyng coom neȝe þo trees he kist hem. 1390Gower Conf. I. 120 The more he cam the welle nyh The nerr cam sche to him ayein. 1517R. Torkington Pilgr. 30 No Cristen man ys not suffered for to come ny it. 1590Shakes. Mids. N. ii. ii. 18 Neuer harme, nor spell, nor charme, Come our louely Lady nye. 1681Dryden Abs. & Achit. 162 He..for a calm unfit, Would steer too nigh the Sands. 1777Sheridan Trip Scarb. v. ii, I am almost ashamed to come nigh 'em.
fig.c1320Cast. Love 320 Hit eode hire herte swiþe neih.
2. In prepositional use.
Beowulf 2831 Se widfloᵹa wundum stille hreas on hrusan, hordærne neah. a900O.E. Martyrol. 22 Aug. 150 His lichoma is bebyrᵹed neah sancte Paules ciricean þæs apostoles. c1075O.E. Chron. (Parker MS.) an. 1031 An scip flotiᵹende swa neh þan lande swa hit nyxt mæᵹe. c1275Lay. 27553 He..smot than eorl Beduer a-forn neȝen þan breoste. 13..Guy Warw. (A.) 1508 To him he smot swiþe smert þurch þe bodi ful ney þe hert. 1393Langl. P. Pl. C. ix. 298 ‘By seynt paul’, quath peers þo, ‘thou poyntest neih þe treuthe’. 1413Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton) i. xix. (1859) 19 Long tyme he had hyd hym self neyhe me. 1470–85Malory Arthur iv. xxvii. 156 She broughte hym there as was a turnement nyghe the marche of walys. 1610Shakes. Temp. i. ii. 216 Pro. But was not this nye shore? Ar. Close by, my Master. 1667Milton P.L. ix. 514 A Ship..Nigh Rivers mouth or Foreland, where the Wind Veres oft. 1770in Picton L'pool Munic. Rec. (1886) II. 257 No gate shall be erected nigher Liverpoole than the four mile stone. 1826J. F. Cooper Mohicans (1829) II. iii. 50 They had reached a bay, nigh the northern termination of the lake.
b. In complementary use with verbs.
c825Vesp. Psalter v. 6 Ne eardað neh ðe awerᵹed. c950Lindisf. Gosp. Luke ii. 9 Engel drihtnes s[t]od neh ðæm. a1122O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1105 Þa þe þam eorle Willelme of Mortoin ahwær neah wunedon. a1225Ancr. R. 312 Holde we him neih us mid smelle of swete werkes. c1320Cast. Love 370 Ich hit seih And tolde hit to Riht þat stood me neih. 1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) V. 357 In his ȝowþe he was..bismer to kynges þat wonede nyh hym. c1440Gesta Rom. ii. 6 (Harl. MS.), Ofte tyme he vsid to ligge ny þe fire.
3. In predicative use with the verb to be, or with ellipse of this:
a. of locality.
c950Lindisf. Gosp. Luke xix. 11 Forðon [he] wære neh hierusalem. c1000Ags. Ps. (Th.) lxxviii. 4 Eallum..ymbsittendum, þe us ahwær neah nu ða syndon. c1175Lamb. Hom. 95 Hit forðnimeð swa hwet him neh bið. c1200Ormin 17918 He wass neh an casstelltun. c1290S. Eng. Leg. I. 1/4 Alle þe heþene men þat neiȝ him were. 1390Gower Conf. I. 197 He ferst loke out ate porte, That noman were nyh the stede. 1551Crowley Pleas. & Pain 242 Such men as were nygh yon dwellynge. 1579Spenser Sheph. Cal. July 89 The hilles bene nigher heven. 1734tr. Rollin's Anc. Hist. xv. ix. (1827) VI. 147 The drops which were nighest the torches taking fire.
b. In various transf. or fig. senses.
c825Vesp. Psalter xxxiii. 19 Neh is dryhten ðissum ða ᵹeswencedre sind on heortan. c1000Ags. Ps. (Th.) liv. 20 Hit wæs his heortan ᵹehyᵹde neah. a1250Owl & Night. 1252 Hwanne ic iseo þat sum wrechede Is manne neyh, inouh ic grede. c1320Sir Tristr. 3016 Sir canados was þan Constable, þe quen ful neiȝe. 1380Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 423 Nevereþoles summe godes ben more nyghe God. c1440Gesta Rom. lxxi. 388 (Addit. MS.), W[h]ere this woman was seke, and ney childe byrth. 1605Shakes. Macb. iv. ii. 72 To do worse to you were fell Cruelty, Which is too nie your person. 1875Myers Poems 63 When man's heart is nighest heaven.
c. Of time or events.
a900Cynewulf Crist 782 Is þam dome neah. 971Blickl. Hom. 95 Þonne..biþ neh þæm seofoþan dæᵹe. c1275O.E. Misc. 142/45 Þis world is neyh þan ende. a1300K. Horn 494 Horn tok his leue, For hit was neȝ eue. 13..Sir Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 1922 Þenne þay helden to home, for hit was nieȝ nyȝt. 1470–85Malory Arthur iii. xiii. 116 He..leyd hym vnder the tree and slepte tyl it was nyghe nyght.
4. With to or unto, in uses similar to above.
c950Lindisf. Gosp. John vi. 19 [Hia] ᵹeseað ðone hælend geongende..neh to scipp. a1300Christ on Cross 19 in E.E.P. (1862) 21 Man þou hast þe for-lor and ful neiþ to helle ibor. c1330R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 1654 Þe Frankysch þenne cast a cry, þerfore men drowe to þeym ney. 1391Chaucer Boeth. iv. met. v. (1868) 132 Þe sterres of arctour ytourned neye to þe souereyne contre or point. c1420Chron. Vilod. 885 Edgar rode ouȝt..In to a Forest neyȝt to his place. 1484Caxton Fables of Alfonce i, [He] wente and lodged hym withynne a Temple nyghe to a Frendes hows. 1535Coverdale John vi. 23 There came other shippes from Tiberias, nye vnto y⊇ place where they had eaten the bred. 1581Mulcaster Positions xl. (1887) 224 The scholers..be bourded at their charges somewhere verie nigh to the schoole. 1600J. Pory tr. Leo's Africa v. 262 The citie of Tunis standing vpon a plaine hath no mountaines nigh vnto it. 1680Morden Geog. Rect., France (1685) 163 Nigh to this place. 1704Col. Rec. Pennsylv. II. 182 Being the neighest to their place of Abode. 1823J. F. Cooper Pioneers v, The arm that was extended bent, and brought the hand nigh to his face.
transf. or fig.1568Grafton Chron. II. 785 They were good men, and true to the King and to nie to the Queene. 1611Bible Lev. xxi. 3 His sister a virgin, that is nigh vnto him. 1826J. F. Cooper Mohicans (1829) II. iii. 46 This change had brought them nigher to each other. 1896Mrs. Caffyn Quaker Grandmother 183 We've crossed each other's paths these many years, for all..we haven't come very nigh to one another.
II. adv. Used absolutely as complement or predicate (passing into adj.).
5. Of place or position:
a. With the verb to be expressed or understood.
c897K. ælfred Gregory's Past. C. li. 399 Her is an lytele burᵹ swiðe neah. c950Lindisf. Gosp. Mark xiv. 42 Seðe mec selleð neh is. a1310in Wright Lyric P. ix. 34 Heo hath browes bend an heh, Whyt bytuene, ant nout to neh. 1386Chaucer Knt.'s T. 668 Ful litel woot Arcite of his felawe, That was so ny. c1450tr. De Imitatione ii. viii. 48 Whan ihesu is nye, all godenes is nye. 1501Douglas Pal. Hon. i. xxi, Thairby I vnderstude that scho was nie. 1590Shakes. Com. Err. ii. i. 43 Heere comes your man, now is your husband nie. 1671Milton P.R. i. 332 We sometimes..come forth To Town or Village nigh (nighest is far). 1821Shelley Aziola i, Methinks she must be nigh. 1850Tennyson In Mem. cxxx, Far off thou art, but ever nigh.
b. With verbs of dwelling, standing, etc.
c1200Trin. Coll. Hom. 189 Þe fleschliche lustes..beoð þe smeðere him to biswikende for þan þe þei nehȝie wunion. 1382Wyclif Jas. v. 9 Lo! the iustise stondith nvȝ bifore the ȝat. 1513Douglas æneis x. xiv. 5 Hys helm of steill besyde hym hang weil ne. 1567J. Maplet Gr. Forest 26 b, Doth not the Uine loue and embrace the Elme & prospereth the better, the nigher one is set by another? 1750Gray Elegy 78 Some frail memorial still erected nigh. 1791Cowper Iliad ix. 248 Then bespake Patroclus standing nigh. 1833Tennyson To J. S. 33, I have not look'd upon you nigh, Since that dear soul hath fall'n asleep.
c. With verbs of motion.
c1330R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 203 He ne wist it ȝolden was, tille he com so nehi. 1470–85Malory Arthur xii. i. 593 Come not to nyȝ for and thow doo..I will slee the. 1667Milton P.L. v. 82 So saying, he drew nigh. 1772–84Cook's Voy. (1790) V. 1618 They came so nigh, that we could discern, with our glasses, the deserters fastened together. 1825J. Neal Bro. Jonathan I. 332 The..dog would not leave him; but crawled nigher. 1879Browning Ivan Ivanovitch 92 What help, as nigher and nigher, The flames came furious?
†d. With verbs of striking, wounding, etc.
1535Coverdale Bible Prol., Euery one doth his best to be nyest the marke.., yet shuteth one nyer then another. 1590Greene Palmer's Ode Wks. (Rtldg.) 295/1 [He] with a dart that wounded nigh Pierc'd my heart as I did lie. 1671Milton P.R. iv. 489 Other harm Those terrors..did me none,..though noising loud And threatning nigh.
e. Naut. Close to the wind. rare—1.
a1687Villiers (Dk. Buckhm.) Cabin-Boy Wks. 1705 II. 101 Nay he could Sail a Yatcht both nigh and large.
6. Of approaching or impending times or events.
Beowulf 1743 Bið se slæp to fæst.., bona swiðe neah. c825Vesp. Hymns vii. 68 Forðon neh is deᵹ forlorenisse heara. 971Blickl. Hom. 107 Maᵹon we..nu ᵹeseon..þæt þisses middanᵹeardes ende swiþe neah is. a1300Cursor M. 14908 He þe time seis command nei. 1382Wyclif Joel ii. 1 For niȝ is the day of derknessis and myst. c1400Destr. Troy 7808 The night was so nighe, þat noyet hym sore. 1535Coverdale Jas. v. 8 The commynge of the Lorde draweth nye. 1559Mirr. Mag. (1563) 35 Than wo and wrack, disease, and nede be nyest. 1666Dryden Ann. Mirab. cii, Till the fresh air proclaimed the morning nigh. 1687A. Lovell tr. Thevenot's Trav. i. 45 Finding the Hour draw nigh, when it is lawful for them to drink and eat. 1866Neale Sequences & Hymns 130 The hour is nigh—far nigher may it be Than yet I deem.
7. Of relationship, friendship, or union. (Cf. 11.)
1382Wyclif Ruth iii. 12 Ne I denye me to be nyȝ, but there is another nerre than Y. c1449Pecock Repr. ii. xx. 272 More or lasse aftir that thilk ioynyng..is more or lasse nyȝer or romber. a1500Geste R. Hood in Child Ballads III. 78/2 The pryoresse of Kyrkesly, That nye was of his kynne. 1549Coverdale, etc. Erasm. Par. 2 Cor. 51 b, [He] coumpteth hym nyghest of his kynne, whiche hath in his promisses moste affiaunce. 1628Sir W. Mure Domesday 534 How more sublime the Object bee, The Union inward and more nie.
8. In phrases:
†a. of nigh, in nigh, or from nigh, close, near at hand. Obs.
a1225Ancr. R. 250 Derne nondunges, þet he scheoteð of feor, &..tentaciuns keoruinde of neih. 1382Wyclif Esther ix. 20 The Jewis that in alle the prouyncis of the king dwelten, bothe in neeȝh set and afer. 14..Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 578/12 Deprope, fro ny. c1489Caxton Sonnes of Aymon iii. 101 Charlemagne followed theym well of nyghe.
b. nigh at hand. (See hand n. 25.)
a1300Cursor M. 15709 He es cumand negh at hand. c1400Destr. Troy 1948 Þere Nestor the noble Duke was negh at his hond. 1535Coverdale 2 Esdras ii. 34 He is nye at hande, that shal come in the ende of the worlde. 1590Spenser F.Q. i. i. 7 To seeke some covert nigh at hand. 1671Milton P.R. i. 20 The great Proclaimer..cri'd..Heavens Kingdom nigh at hand. 1790Paley Horæ Paul. 271 He now regards the decision of his fate as nigh at hand.
†c. nigh and far. (Cf. far adv. 1 b, and OE. ᵹe neah ᵹe feor.) Obs. rare.
1422tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. 208 By the eyghen know we..thynges neygh and ferre, meuynge and restynge. 1599Davies Immort. Soul ii. (1742) 14 Mine Eyes, which view all Objects nigh and far.
9. Comb. as nigh-adjoinant, nigh-coming, nigh-dwelling; nigh-dweller. Also † nigh-aimed, hit by close aiming.
c1400tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 97 Setyng, remuynge & neghcomyng, sterynge & rest. 1429Rolls of Parlt. IV. 345/1 Nygh adjoynaunt to the Rever. 1553N. Grimalde Cicero's Offices ii. (1558) 100 Letting nye dwellynges and partie boundes, to be just and gentle. 1591Spenser M. Hubberd 742 Now his bright armes assaying,..Now the nigh aymed ring away to beare. 1867Musgrave Nooks & Corners Old France II. 145 These quarrymen..would prove more troublesome nigh-dwellers than they in fact are.
III. adj. In attributive use.
10. Of places, persons, or things. (In later use chiefly in comparative and superlative.)
c900tr. Bæda's Hist. iv. i. (Ca.), On þam neahᵹum mynstre [al. neahnunnmynstre]. c1330R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 5941 To ney neygheburs, & ferþer fro. c1380Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 175 Neyȝghe neiȝbores þat hadde riȝt to þese godes. 1432–50tr. Higden (Rolls) I. 299 The nyer Speyne to theis costes begynnethe from the hilles Pirene. 1540–1Elyot Image Gov. (1556) 36 By the examinacion of theyr nighest neighbours. 1590Spenser F.Q. iii. xii. 1 She heard a shrilling Trompet sound alowd, Signe of nigh battaill, or got victory. 1711Fingall MSS. in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. V. 131 They had orders to remain at the nigher end of the four mile pass. 1798Coleridge Frost at Midn. 69 The nigh thatch Smokes in the sun-thaw. 1827J. F. Cooper Prairie I. i. 23 The distance from this place to the nighest point on the main river. 1868Morris Earthly Par. I. 96 [He] seized the nighest ship.
fig.1598Bacon Medit., Hypocrites Ess. (Arb.) 117 Vnto this ordinance that other Hipocrisie is a nigh neyghbour.
b. Of ways or roads. (See near a. 5.)
1516Life St. Bridget in Myrr. our Ladye, etc. p. li, Thy doughter by the nyghest waye shall goo vnto the kyngdome of heuyn. 1547Homilies i. Whoredom i. (1640) 80 Is there any nigher way to lead unto damnation? 1765R. Rogers Jrnl. (1883) 136 The General..ordered me..to proceed across the Chestnut Plain the nighest and best way I could, to Lake Champlain. 1823Scott Quentin D. xxxii, The nigher and the safer road to Liege.
†c. Of causes: Immediate, proximate. Obs.
1551T. Wilson Logike (1580) 44 Good heede ought to bee had,..that the nye causes and the farthest causes, be not taken al for one. 1620T. Granger Div. Logike 49 The father is the nighest cause of the sonne.
d. = near a. 3. Also Comb. as nigh-side.
1722Lond. Gaz. No. 6063/4 A white Heel on the Nigh Leg behind. 1823J. F. Cooper Pioneers v, It was only pulling hard on the nigh rein, and touching the off flank of the leader. 1844H. Stephens Bk. Farm I. 626 The nigh trace-chain of the nigh horse is hooked to the end..of the swing-tree. Ibid. II. 540 The nigh-side shaft being laid upon the side-rail.
11. Of relatives or friends. (Cf. 7.)
c1205Lay. 10260 Ne bi-læfde he her neouðer suster ne broðer, ne quene ne næh cun. 1377Langl. P. Pl. B. xii. 95 Kynde Witte is of his kyn and neighe cosynes bothe To owre lorde. 1432–50tr. Higden (Rolls) IV. 155 The grownde scholde be taken to the nyeste of his bloode. 1470–85Malory Arthur iii. xii. 114 This lady is my kynneswoman nygh. c1538in Archbold Somers. Rel. Houses (1892) 93 Doctor Tregonwell..hath obteigned the same for a nygh frende of his. 1650Trapp Comm. Num. xviii. 22 Gods Kinsmen,..according to some translations, or his nigh-Ones.
absol.1382Wyclif Lev. xxi. 2 Oonly in cosyns, and nyȝ [L. propinquis], that is, vpon fader and moder. ― Prov. xxiii. 11 The neeȝh [L. propinquus]..of them is strong.
** Denoting approximation in degree, amount, etc.
IV. adv.
12. Nearly, almost, all but.
c893K. ælfred Oros. i. i. 17 Þa Finnas..& þa Beormas spræcon neah an ᵹeþeode. c1000Sax. Leechd. I. 254 Heo hafað leaf neah swylce mistel. c1200Ormin 3206 Till þatt he waxenn wass, & neh Of þrittiȝ winnterr elde. c1250Gen. & Ex. 1234 His moder wurð neȝ dead for friȝt. c1290St. Brendan 714 in S. Eng. Leg. I. 239 Þou schalt sone out of þis world, þi lijf is neiȝ at þende. 1340Ayenb. 76 Huerof al þe wordle ys nyeȝ begyled. 1390Gower Conf. I. 33 This ymage is nyh overthrowe. c1440Gesta Rom. xii. 40 (Harl. MS.), By chaunce I was ny dreynt in a water. 1470–85Malory Arthur xi. viii. 582 Thenne the quene was nyghe oute of her wytte. 1523Ld. Berners Froiss. I. xviii. 25 They were nigh so feble that it shulde haue ben great peyne for them to haue goon any forther. 1590Spenser F.Q. i. iii. 13 Nigh dead with feare..Shee found them both. 1667Milton P.L. x. 159 To whom sad Eve with shame nigh overwhelm'd,..thus abasht repli'd. 1817Shelley Rev. Islam x. xxxv, Kingly thrones, which rest on faith, nigh overturned. 1872Tennyson Gareth & Lynette 769 The wood is nigh as full of thieves as leaves.
b. With terms of quantity or number.
c1055O.E. Chron. (MS. C.) an. 1055 Ða gaderade man fyrde ᵹeond eall Englaland swyðe neah. c1200Ormin 1892 Acc Marrch was þa Neh all gan ut til ende. c1250Gen. & Ex. 833 Neȝ ilc burȝe hadde ise louereding. 1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 4025 Hit is ney vif ȝer þat we abbeþ yliued in such vice. 1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) III. 147 He..made fre ny fifty þowsand men. 1450–1530Myrr. our Ladye 249 Nye all that knew him fleyng away from hym. 1559Mirr. Mag., Dk. Suffolk vii, I gave nie five times five assaultes. 1672Sir P. Leycester Hist. Antiq. ii. i. iii, Ethelred..restored Caerleon,..and made it nigh such two as it was before. 1890Bickley Surrey Hills i, Nigh ten mile a day. 1896G. Chanter Witch i, Father he were huntsman..for nigh forty year.
c. With nigh about (-but), on, † than, upon.
c1200Trin. Coll. Hom. 33 Adam..ledde after him neih þan al his ofspreng. c1205Lay. 22340 Þa Irisce men weoren nakede neh þan. 1632Lithgow Trav. iv. 149 Nigh about the same time it is obserued that Boniface the third begun his Empire. 1829Landor Imag. Conv., Chaucer, etc. Wks. 1853 I. 405/1 Early on the second morning he was nigh upon twenty miles from home. 1854Dickens Hard T. i. xi, I were one-and-twenty myseln; she were twenty nigh⁓but. 1870Verney Lettice Lisle x, I'm nighabouts twice eighteen. 1887Baring-Gould Gaverocks III. xlii. 10 It nigh on broke your dear mother's heart.
d. With negatives or as. (Cf. near adv.2 6, 8.)
c888K. ælfred Boeth. xviii. §1 Eall moncynn & ealle netenu ne notiᵹað nawer neah feorðan dæles þisse eorðan. a1000Boeth. Metr. xxx. 10 Ne mæᵹ hio þeah ᵹescinan..ahwærᵹen neah ealla ᵹesceafta. 1559Morwyng Evonym. 141 They attain un-to a certain incorruption as nye as may be. 1567in Vicary's Anat. (1888) App. iii. 154 [To] make an estymate as neight as they can, what the Charges of the doyng thereof will amount vnto. 1691Norris Pract. Disc. 1 The thorough Fool is not nigh so great a Prodigy as the Half-wise Man.
†13. Nearly, closely. (Denoting that little or nothing is left.) Obs.
c1386Chaucer Prol. 590 His berd was schave as neigh as ever he can. c1399― Purse 19 For I am shave as nye as is a frere. 1496Fysshynge w. Angle (1883) 15 Kytte of the lynys ende & the threde as nyghe as ye maye. 1563Homilies ii. Rogation Week iv. (1640) 237 Charging the owners not to gather up their corne too nigh at harvest season..but to leave behind some eares. 1587L. Mascall Govt. Cattle, Oxen (1627) 98 To heale the kibes, ye shall cut them forth as nie as ye can.
14. Near or close (to), in respect of attainment, resemblance, † likelihood, etc. † nothing nigh, nothing like.
c1380Wyclif Wks. (1880) 339 Men þat..ben full nyȝ to synne aȝeyne han no penaunce of her synne. 1500–20Dunbar Poems lxxxviii. 52 No Lord of Parys, Venyce, or Floraunce In dignytie or honoure goeth to hym nye. 1565Cooper Thesaurus s.v. A, To be in case verie nie to be a banished man. 1666Bunyan Grace Abound. §154 This [sin] came nighest to mine of any that I could find. 1743Bulkeley & Cummins Voy. S. Seas 119 We answered them that the Water was smoother without, and nothing nigh the Sea that runs within. 1847L. Hunt Men, Women, & B. II. x. 225 Her sarcasms and self-will..go nigh to confirm it. 1889Theo. Gift Not for the Night-time 45 [He] struck down and went nigh to murder the man.
15. As adj. Close, near; parsimonious.
1555W. Watreman Fardle of Facions App. 325 There cometh not so greate profite to the owners by the nighe gatheryng. 1856P. Thompson Hist. Boston 716 Nye, near, stingy, mean. 1866J. E. Brogden Prov. Words Linc. s.v. Nye, Although holding a good position in the county he is a nye man.
†b. Coming near in amount. Obs. rare—1.
1557Recorde Whetst. D ij b, Thei will helpe you to gesse at the nigheste rootes of nombers that be not square.
16. Comb., as nigh-destroyed, nigh-drowned, nigh-ebbed, nigh-naked, nigh-spent.
1598F. Rous Thule O 2 b, O cease (quoth they) to make an ouerflow Ouer the bounds of our ny-drowned mindes. 1649Ogilby tr. Virg. Georg. ii. (1684) 91 Nigh-destroyed Realms. 1768–74Tucker Lt. Nat. (1834) II. 638 The nigh-spent hour-glass of time. 1864Tennyson En. Ard. 677 On the nigh-naked tree the Robin piped. 1868Morris Earthly Par. (1870) I. i. 125 The nigh-ebbed windless sea In the still evening murmured ceaselessly.
▪ II. nigh, v. Now rare.|naɪ|
Forms: α. 3 neh(h)ȝhenn, nehyen, neȝȝen, 3–5 nehe(n, neghe(n, 4 neghȝe, neȝhe, newhe, 4–5 neȝe; Sc. 5 nech(t, 6 nee. β. 3–4 neihen, 3–5 neiȝe(n, 4 neiȝhe, neiye, 4–5 (7, 9) neigh(e; 3–5 neye, (4 nay-), 4–5 neyhe, (5 -hhe), neyȝe, (4 -ȝþe), neyghe, 5 Sc. neych. γ. 4 niȝe, 4–5 nyhe, 5 nyȝhe, nyegh, 4–6 nyghe, 5 Sc. nycht, nicht, 5–6 Sc. nich, 4–7 nye, 4– nigh.
[f. nigh adv. Cf. MDu. nahen (rare), OS. nâhian, OHG. nâhên (MHG. nâhen, nân, G. nahen, nahn), ON. ná (Sw. nå, Da. naa), Goth. nêhwjan.]
1. trans. To go, come, or draw near to (a person, place, etc.); to approach closely. (Common c 1300–1500.)
c1200Ormin 8077 Swa he stannc þat iwhillc mann Wass himm full laþ to nehhȝhenn. c1220Bestiary 147 Ðe neddre..If he naked man se, ne wile he him noȝt neȝȝen. c1330R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 3294 Als þey ryfled landes ay whore, Rome þey neighed ay þe more. 1377Langl. P. Pl. B. xvii. 58 Feith..nolde nouȝt neighen hym by nyne londes lengthe. 1451Rolls of Parlt. V. 216/2 If eny of the said persones be compelled..to nygh youre persone. 1530Palsgr. 644/1 Or it be nyght we shall nyghe the towne. 15..Christ's Kirk 15 Thay wer sa nyss quhen men thame nicht, Thay squelit lyke ony gaitis. 1654Gayton Pleas. Notes iv. xxii. 274 Not Perseus horse..Flies like to this (if any dangers nigh him). 1766Chron. in Ann. Reg. 190/1 Jumping upon deck, and crying out ‘She nighs us! she nighs us! she is standing this way!’ 1806J. Grahame Birds of Scot. 80 Now she nighs the carnage-freighted keel. 1817Scott Harold iv. ix, Sooner than Walwayn my sick couch should nigh, My choice were, by leach-craft unaided to die.
†b. To approach so as to touch or handle. Obs.
c1200Ormin 4491 Þatt tu nan oþerr manness wif Ne ȝeorne nohht to nehȝhenn Wiþþ unnclænnessess fule lusst. a1225Ancr. R. 134 He is þe achate þet atter of sunne ne neihede neuere. a1300Cursor M. 2422 Þat moght naman o licherie Hir body neght wit wilanie. Ibid. 10877 Womman þat neuer neghed man. c1420Avow. Arth. liv, Lye downe preuely hur by, Butte neghe noȝte thou that lady. c1440Anc. Cookery in Househ. Ord. (1790) 433 Take a faire urthen pot, and lay hit well with splentes in the bothum, that the flessh neigh hit not. 15..Adam Bell iii. 258 But Cloudesle clefte the apple in twaine, His sonne he did not nee. 1674Ray N.C. Words 34 To nigh a thing, to touch it. I did not nigh it: i.e. I came not nigh it.
†c. To take or accept. Obs. rare—1.
13..Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 1836 He nay[ed] þat he nolde neghe in no wyse Nauþer golde ne garysoun.
†d. To touch or concern (one) closely. Obs. rare.
c1450Holland Howlat 276 Sen it nechit Natur..Thai couth nocht trete but entent of the Temperale. c1489Caxton Blanchardyn 135 The proude pucell..reioysched her self.., by cause that this nyghed her at herte.
2. it nighs:
†a. It draws near or close to (a certain time). Obs.
The it appears orig. to be in apposition to the noun.
c1200Vices & Virtues 121 Nimeð scrifte of ȝewer sennes, hit neihedð heuene riche. a1310in Wright Lyric P. xxviii. 84 Me thynketh hit neȝyth domesday. c1350Will. Palerne 2599 Whan it neiȝet niȝt, þei nold no lenger a-bide. c1430Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 6989 Whan he saw it nighed night, Oute of the forest he went a right.
b. It draws to or towards a time. † Also with at.
a1300Cursor M. 14913 Fast it neghes to þe nede For his to suffur passion. 13..Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 929 Hit was neȝ at þe niyȝt neȝed þe tyme. c1400Destr. Troy 672 Hit neght to þe night & the none past. c1425Seven Sag. (P.) 331 Hit neght fast toward nyght. 1821Blackw. Mag. X. 124 When it nigh'd to Christmas-tide, I cut the holly's glorious bough.
3. intr. To draw or come near toward or to a person, place, etc.
c1200Ormin 12794 Loc, here nehȝheþþ towarrd me..An soþ Issraelisshe mann. a1300Cursor M. 11846 Moght nan for stinck negh til his bedd. a1340Hampole Psalter xxxi. 8 Til him þai sall noght neghe. c1400Mandeville (1839) v. 40 But it is fulle longe sithe that ony Man durste neyhe to the Tour. c1450tr. De Imitatione ii. xii. 56 Þan all þe seruauntes of þe crosse..shul nye vnto crist þe Juge wiþ gret trust. 1496Dives & Pauper (W. de W.) x. ii. 373/1 Ryght as theyr bodye by age nygheth to the erth. a1821Keats Hyperion ii. 103 The laden heart Is persecuted more..When it is nighing to a mournful house.
transf.a1300Cursor M. 9977 [She] neghed neuer to wik dede, Bot euer sco liued in maiden-hede.
†b. To pierce to, to light on, the skin. Obs. rare.
a1400–50Alexander 4182 And quare it neȝes on þe nakid it noyis for euire. c1400Destr. Troy 6403 He shot þrough the shild & the shene maile..; Hit neghit to þe nakid.
4. To go, come, or draw near; to approach.
a1300Cursor M. 1009 Paradis is a..land..þar neuer neghes nede ne night. 13..Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 132 An oþer noyse ful newe neȝed biliue. 1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) I. 101 No man durste neyhe, but he were purified and i-made all clene. c1430Pilgr. Lyf Manhode i. xxv. (1869) 16 Þan is a welle closed þer neuere oon dar neighe ne aproche. 1551Crowley Pleas. & Payne 425 Your wycked soule shall neuer nye, But lyue in payne for euermore. 1630J. Lane Contn. Sqr.'s T. (Chaucer Soc.) 140 Looke how fast, at first, the Rebells nyed, so fast and faster now they rann to hide. 1898T. Hardy Wessex Poems 71 The first battle nighed on the low Southern side.
b. Of time or events, etc.
c1275O.E. Misc. 142/42 Þis world is neyh þan ende; Þe deþ neyeþ blyue. 13..E.E. Allit. P. B. 1754 Nyȝt neȝed ryȝt now with nyes fol mony. 1382Wyclif Matt. iii. 2 Do ȝe penaunce, for the kyngdom of heuens shal neiȝ. 1422tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. 175 Many dayes Passyd, the terme neyghed, and he came not. c1460Launfal 829 The certayn day was nyghyng. 1515Scottish Field 198 in Chetham Misc. (1856) Then nighed the night that byde must they nedes. 1595Spenser Epithal. 298 Now day is doen, and night is nighing fast.
†5. Followed by nigh adv. or prep. Obs. (Common c 1300–1450.)
a1300Cursor M. 21062 Iohn..sei his ending dai him neghand nei [Edinb. neiȝand neich]. c1350Will. Palerne 1606 Whan þemperour of grece neiyed neiȝh rome. c1400Destr. Troy 4863 Þai wete not..Þat we be neghit so negh. 1447O. Bokenham Seyntys (Roxb.) 302 Whan hyr tym neyhyd ny, That ys to seyn whan she shuld deye.
†b. Similarly with near adv. and prep. Obs. (Very common c 1375–1450.)
a1300Cursor M. 5239 Quen iacob neghed egypte nere. c1375Sc. Leg. Saints xlix. (Thecla) 218 Syne come a lyone fel & fere & to sla tecle nichit nere. c1425Wyntoun Cron. i. xiii. 1160 Thare is nane dar necht it nere. c1450St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 4395 It neghid nere þe tyme of none. 1530Hickscorner 209 A knave catchpoll nyghed us nere.
Hence ˈnighing vbl. n. and ppl. a.
1388Wyclif Judith xvi. 10 marg., Bi this thing Judith schulde haue homeli neiȝing to him. 1434Rolls of Parlt. V. 435/2 The neghing and dayly prees of the Werre therby to your gode Toune. c1449Pecock Repr. ii. viii. 182 A comoun place to which peple may haue her deuout neiȝing and accesse. 1596Lodge Marg. Amer. 15 Midst thy pompe thy nying grave remember. 1818Keats in Life & Lett. (1848) I. 236, I look with hope to the nighing time when I shall have none. |