Etymology: Comparative of nigh adj. (see discussion at that entry; compare -er suffix³). In later use (in Middle English) partly also < early Scandinavian (compare Old Icelandic nærri , Old Danish nærre , adjectives, both in sense ‘nearer’, representing a double comparative formation < the Scandinavian base of Old Icelandic nær (see near adv.¹) + the Scandinavian base of Old Icelandic -ri -er suffix³); see further note below. Compare nar adv.Old English nēah nigh adv. had a comparative adjective nēarra nar adj., and a comparative adverb nēar (also nēor , nȳr ) near adv.¹ In surviving Old English texts nēarra is used only attributively, while nēar is used predicatively. In Middle English these words seem to have been reinforced by forms derived from the cognate early Scandinavian forms (compare the Old Icelandic comparative adjective nærri nar adj., and comparative adverb nær near adv.¹, nærr nar adv.). The Scandinavian forms, although morphologically comparative, were, unlike the Old English forms, used in semantic contexts which were sometimes comparative and sometimes positive, and the existence of positive uses of English nar and near demonstrates the probable influence on English of these Scandinavian words. Old English nēar (adverb) and the early Scandinavian word corresponding to Old Icelandic nær (adverb), are reflected in Middle English forms with a long vowel, while Old English nēarra (adjective), and the early Scandinavian words corresponding to Old Icelandic nærri (adjective and adverb), nærr (adverb), are reflected in Middle English forms with a short vowel. Following N.E.D., all examples with a long vowel are placed under the headwords spelt near (near adj., near adv.¹, near adv.²), and all forms with a short vowel under the headwords nar (nar adj., nar adv.). Scots and regional forms with long ā are also placed at nar (nar adj., nar adv.). It is sometimes difficult to determine the vowel length from the form, especially when the form ner appears without a rhyme which can be used as a guide to its length: in these cases (again following the policy of N.E.D.) it is assumed that the vowel is long. For this reason it is possible that some quots. at near adj., near adv.¹, near adv.² may in fact belong at nar adj., nar adv. For the further division of forms with long vowel or diphthong, see near adv.² The etymological division of forms with a short vowel is difficult because most of the examples have a comparative sense. Examples where nar is an attributive adjective, or is a predicative adjective with the verb to be (provided the sense is comparative) are placed at nar adj. (with mixed Old English and early Scandinavian derivation). Predicative uses with to be which are positive, uses with verbs other than to be , both positive and comparative, and other adverbial uses are put at nar adv. (with early Scandinavian derivation). (This again follows N.E.D.'s division.) The Middle English comparative nerrer and superlative nerrest have been formed on nerre as if it were a positive form. The superlative form nardest is probably after farthest adj. (compare forms s.v.).

Etymology: < early Scandinavian (compare Old Icelandic nær , adverb, ‘nearer, near’ (see near adv.¹), Old Icelandic nærr , adverb, ‘nearer’, representing a double comparative formation < the Scandinavian base of Old Icelandic nær (see near adv.¹) + the Scandinavian base of Old Icelandic -r -er suffix³, and Old Icelandic nærri , adverb, ‘nearer, near’, probably originally an adjectival formation (see nar adj.)). Old Icelandic nær , nærri were used in both comparative and positive sense (compare etymological note s.v. near adv.²); in modern Icelandic nær (the reflex of both nær and nærr ) is used only in comparative sense (except in compounds), and nærri only in positive sense. Compare nar adj.There is complete semantic overlap with near adv.¹ and near adv.² (see etymological note s.v. nar adj. for the distinction between these words). The comparative form narder is probably after farther adv. (compare forms s.v.). In quots. c1325 at sense 1, 1508 at sense 1 the form ner (in each case rhyming with fer far adv.) has been assumed to have a short vowel; however, occasional variants of fer with long vowel are attested, and it is possible that these quots. may perhaps belong at near adv.² 6a (compare discussion s.v. nar adj.).

Etymology: Imitative. Compare narr v., gnar v.