| 释义 |
nighv. Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a variant or alteration of another lexical item. Partly formed within English, by conversion. Etymons: English genēahian ; nigh adv. Etymology: Partly aphetic < Old English genēahian (see below), and partly directly < nigh adv.Compare early modern Dutch (rare) naen , Old Saxon nāhian , Old High German nāhen (Middle High German nāhen , nān , German (literary) nahen ), Old Icelandic ná , Old Swedish na (Swedish nå ), Danish nå , Gothic nehwjan < the same Germanic base as nigh adv. Compare also (with -k- connective) Middle Dutch nāken (Dutch (archaic) naken ), Middle Low German nāken . The northern Middle English past tense form neghted (with corresponding inferred infinitive neght ) apparently arises from a mistaken analysis of the regular past tense form neght ; compare also the past tense forms neyȝþed , neyȝtiden . However, compare also Middle English forms of nigh adv. with excrescent -t . In Old English the prefixed forms genēahian , (Northumbrian) genēhwiga are also attested (compare also the contracted prefixed forms genēan , onnēan ). All of these forms are rare; the usual Old English word was nēalǣcan (see neighleche v.). Now poetic and rare. 1. the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > move towards or approach (a thing, place, or person) [verb (transitive)] > draw near to lOE Homily: De Sancto Iohanne (Vesp. D.xiv) in R. D.-N. Warner (1917) 147 Oððet heo nehiget [read nehigeð] neorxenewange. c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 8078 He stannc þatt iwhillc mann Wass himm full laþ to nehhȝhenn. a1300 (c1275) (1991) 108 If he naked man se, ne wile he him noȝt neȝȝen. c1350 (?c1300) (Rawl. C. 655) 655) 128 (MED) Wan ihesu say þo folke him neye, Apon a hille he sat an hey. ?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng (Petyt) (1996) i. 3266 As þei robbed londes aywhore, Rome þei neghed ay þe more. c1400 (c1378) W. Langland (Laud 581) (1869) B. xvii. 58 (MED) He..nolde nouȝt neighen hym by nyne londes lengthe. 1451 V. 216/2 If eny of the said persones be compelled..to nygh youre persone. 1530 J. Palsgrave 644/1 Or it be nyght we shall nyghe the towne. 1568 Christis Kirk on Grene in W. T. Ritchie (1928) II. 262 Thay wer so nyss quhen men thame nicht Thay squeilit lyk ony gaitis. c1616 ( in T. Stapleton (1839) p. lix The said officers..were neighing..Thornton brig. 1654 E. Gayton iv. xxii. 274 Not Perseus horse..Flies like to this (if any dangers nigh him). 1766 Chron. in 190/1 Jumping upon deck, and crying out ‘She nighs us! she nighs us! she is standing this way!’ 1806 J. Grahame 80 Now she nighs the carnage-freighted keel. 1817 W. Scott iv. ix. 119 Sooner than Walwayn my sick couch should nigh, My choice were, by leach-craft unaided to die. 1887 A. T. de Vere 188 As sank an ominous sun through skies blood-red Nighing a stormy sea. 1916 C. M. Doughty vi. 138 But was, Past Noon, when nighed they those ranged salvage cliffs: Amidst dread solitude! 1922 A. E. Housman 35 He stood, and heard the steeple Sprinkle the quarters on the morning town... Strapped, noosed, nighing his hour, He stood and counted them. c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 12794 Loc here nehȝheþþ towarrd me..An soþ issrælisshe mann. a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1959) Exod. xl. 30 Þei..neyȝtiden [a1425 Corpus Oxf. neiȝe ȝeden; v.r. neyȝeden; L. accederunt] to þe auter. a1382 (Bodl. 959) Num. xvi. 5 Whom he [sc. God] cheseþ sholyn neiȝe [a1425 Corpus Oxf. neiȝ] to hym. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 9977 [She] neghed neuer to wik dede, Bot euer sco liued in maiden-hede. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 11846 Moght nan for stinck negh til his bedd. ?a1425 (c1400) (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 25 But it is fulle longe sithe þat ony man durste neyghe to the tour. c1450 (?a1402) J. Trevisa tr. (Digby 233) f. 3v (MED) And the more a man neigheth to unite and to godenes. 1496 (c1410) (de Worde) x. ii. 373/1 Ryght as theyr bodye by age nygheth to the erth. a1500 (c1340) R. Rolle (Univ. Oxf. 64) (1884) xxxi. 8 Til him þai sall noght neghe. a1500 tr. Thomas à Kempis (Trin. Dublin) (1893) 56 Þan all þe seruauntes of þe crosse..shul nye vnto crist þe Juge wiþ gret trust. 1820 J. Keats Hyperion: a Fragm. ii, in 173 The laden heart Is persecuted more..When it is nighing to a mournful house. 1879 A. T. de Vere vi. 99 From each in turn forth gazing, fain to learn If friend were t'wards him nighing. 1920 C. M. Doughty vi. 194 I following soon without; have nighed to place: Where drooping shivering souls..stood on dark brink. the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > move towards [verb (intransitive)] > draw near a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden (St. John's Cambr.) (1865) I. 101 No man durste neyhe, but he were purified and i-made all clene. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 1009 Paradis is a..land..þar neuer neghes nede ne night. c1400 (?c1390) (1940) 132 An oþer noyse ful newe neȝed biliue. a1525 (c1448) R. Holland Bk. Howlat l. 887 in W. A. Craigie (1925) II. 122 Dame natur ye nobillest nechit in ane Ffor to ferme yis federem. 1551 R. Crowley sig. Cvv Your wycked soule shall neuer nye But lyue in payne for euermore. 1630 J. Lane (Chaucer Soc.) 140 Looke how fast, at first, the Rebells nyed, so fast and faster now they rann to hide. 1898 T. Hardy 71 The first battle nighed on the low Southern side. 1908 J. Payne Death of Pan in 138 The Egyptian pilot of the bark wind-bound, Louder and louder still and nearer nighing. †2. the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > engage in sexual activity with [verb (transitive)] the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > touching > touch [verb (transitive)] > approach so as to touch c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 4491 Þe niȝhennde wass sett..Þatt tu nan oþerr manness wif Ne ȝeorne nohht to nehȝhenn. Wiþþ unnclænnessess fule lusst. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 2422 Þat moght naman o licherie Hir body neght wit wilanie. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 10877 Womman þat neuer neghed man. ?c1425 Recipe in (Arun. 334) (1790) 433 (MED) Take a faire urthen pot and lay hit well with splentes in the bothum that the flessh neigh hit not. c1475 (?c1425) (1984) l. 854 Lye downe preuely hur by, Butte neghe noȝte þou þat lady. c1550 iii. 258 But Cloudesle clefte the apple in twaine, His sonne he did not nee. 1673 J. Ray N. Countrey Words in 34 To nigh a thing, to touch it. I did not nigh it: i.e. I came not nigh it. 1703 R. Thoresby Let. 27 Apr. in J. Ray et al. (1718) 333 I did not neigh it, came not nigh it. 1825 J. T. Brockett 150 Nigh, to approach, to touch. 1854 A. E. Baker II. 55 Nigh, to get close to a thing, to touch it. the mind > possession > taking > take [verb (transitive)] c1400 (?c1390) (1940) 1836 (MED) He nay þat he nolde neghe in no wyse Nauþer golde ne garysoun. ?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 99 Bi som daiez presume he on no maner to negh or come nere wyne [?c1425 Paris to come nygh wyne; L. vino..approximare]. ?a1425 (Egerton) (1889) 135 (MED) Of þis fruyt dare na man ete ne negh it. 1470 in (1961) 42 134 Ebalt..was a light man and had no gode to nyghe or to ley hand vppon. c1450 (?a1400) (Ashm.) 4182 (MED) Quare it neȝes on þe nakid, it noyis for euire. c1540 (?a1400) 6403 A felle speire..neghit to þe nakid, but no noy did. the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [verb (transitive)] 1490 (1962) 135 The proude pucell..reioysched her self.., by cause that this nyghed her at herte. a1525 (c1448) R. Holland Bk. Howlat l. 276 in W. A. Craigie (1925) II. 103 Sen It nechit natur..Thai couth nocht trete but entent of ye temporale. 3. the world > time > relative time > the future or time to come > future [verb (intransitive)] > be imminent a1225 (c1200) (1888) 19 Ȝure ænde-dai neihȝeð. a1300 in R. Morris (1872) 142 Þis world is neyh þan ende; Þe deþ neyeþ blyue. c1384 (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Matt. iii. 2 Do ȝe penaunce, for the kyngdom of heuens shal neiȝ. c1400 (?c1380) (1920) 1754 (MED) Nyȝt neȝed ryȝt now wyth nyes fol mony. c1450 (?a1400) (Ashm.) 2221 (MED) Now ere his seggis all sett, & þe saute neȝis. c1450 (?a1400) T. Chestre (1930) 829 (MED) Þe certayn day was nyȝyng. a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. (Rawl.) (1898) 175 Many dayes Passyd, the terme neyghed, and he came not. 1595 E. Spenser Epithalamion in xvii. sig. H4 Now day is doen, and night is nighing fast. ?c1600 (c1515) Sc. Field (Lyme) 173 in I. F. Baird (D.Phil. thesis, Univ. of Birm.) (1990) 236 Then nighed the night, that byde must they neden. 1889 G. Massey I. 37 Star of the Dark that is dying; Star of the Dawn that is nighing. 1922 A. E. Housman 73 When summer's end is nighing And skies at evening cloud. the world > time > relative time > the future or time to come > in future [phrase] > it draws near a1225 (c1200) (1888) 121 (MED) Nimeð scrifte of ȝewer sennes; hit neiheð heuene riche. a1350 in G. L. Brook (1968) 58 Me þynkeþ hit neȝyþ domesday. a1375 (c1350) (1867) 770 (MED) Whan it neiȝed niȝt, noyȝed was he sore. a1450 (Pierpont Morgan) (1865) 6989 Whan he saw it nighed night, Oute of the forest he went a right. c1450 (a1400) (Calig.) (1965) l. 203 Hyt nyȝed þe nyȝt þoo. the world > time > relative time > the future or time to come > in future [phrase] > it draws near > it draws near to c1330 (Auch.) (1882) 1131 (MED) Þo neiȝede it toward eue. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 14913 (MED) Fast it neghes to þe nede For his to suffur passion. c1400 (?c1390) (1940) 929 Hit watȝ neȝ at þe nyȝt [MS myȝt] neȝed þe tyme. a1450 (Cambr. Dd.1.17) (1845) 331 (MED) Hit neght fast toward nyght. c1540 (?a1400) 672 Hit neght to þe night & þe none past. 1821 10 124 When it nigh'd to Christmas-tide, I cut the holly's glorious bough. a1924 M. Ghose Canto I in (1970) iii. vii. 364 Lo, it nighs to morn, Beauty's holy spark Cries out to be born. †4. intransitive with intensifying adverb or with adverb accompanied by noun phrase as complement. the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > move towards [verb (intransitive)] > draw near c1330 (Auch.) (1882) 1377 (MED) Þo þe ostes neiȝeden nieȝ, Þat eiþer ost oþer sieȝ. a1375 (c1350) (1867) 1606 Whan þemperour of grece neiyed neiȝh rome. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 21062 Fulfild of eild..he sei His ending dai him neghand nei. 1447 O. Bokenham (Arun.) (1938) 10563 (MED) Hyr tym neyhyd ny..whan she shuld deye. a1500 (?a1400) (1903) 2832 (MED) A thow woldyst nyghe me nye, Thow shalt wele wete I am not slayn. c1540 (?a1400) 4863 Þai wete not..Þat we be neghit so negh. the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > move towards [verb (intransitive)] > draw near a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 5239 Quen iacob neghed egypte nere. c1400 (a1376) W. Langland (Trin. Cambr. R.3.14) (1960) A. vii. 283 (MED) It neiȝide ner heruest. ?c1450 (1891) 4395 It neghid nere þe tyme of none. c1480 (a1400) St. Thecla 218 in W. M. Metcalfe (1896) II. 438 Syne come a lyone fel & fere & to sla tecle nichit nere. a1500 (?a1400) (1935) 430 (MED) They hym perceyued and neȝeden ful ner. ?1515 (de Worde) sig. A.v A knaue catchpoll nyghed vs nere. a1525 (c1448) R. Holland Bk. Howlat l. 682 in W. A. Craigie (1925) II. 116 The athill empriour anone nechit him neire. a1530 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun (Royal) i. xiii. 1160 Thare is nane dar necht it nere. †5. a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden (Harl.) I. 297 Vasconia..neigheþ to Peytow. ?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac (Hunterian) f. 41 (MED) Muscules and cordes..leide oþer neiȝynge to þe bone off þe thie. a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. (Rawl.) (1898) 241 (MED) The stomake..neyeth myche the lyuer. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022). nighadv.prep.adj.n. Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: Cognate with Old Frisian nēi , nī (West Frisian nei ), Middle Dutch nā (Dutch na ), Old Saxon nāh , nā (Middle Low German nā , nae , nāch ), Old High German nāh , nā (Middle High German nāch , nā , nāhe , German (adjective) nah , nahe , (adverb and preposition) nach , now only in sense ‘after, to, towards’), Old Icelandic ná- (only in compounds, as nábúi neighbour, nákominn closely related, etc.), Old Swedish naa- (Swedish †nå- ), only in compounds, Danish na- (only in nabo neighbour), Gothic nehw , nehwa ; further etymology uncertain and disputed: perhaps < the same Indo-European base as enough adj., or perhaps < an extended form of the Indo-European base of Old Church Slavonic na on, at, Russian na on, at, or perhaps a Germanic innovation.Old High German is the only example among the older languages in which a fully developed adjectival use of the word exists along with the adverbial. In Old English there are only a few traces of an adjectival inflection, the word being more commonly employed either as a simple adverb, with a dependent dative, or as the first element in compounds (the latter use probably reinforced the development of the adjectival use): 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 Old English nēah as an adverb is nēar (also nēor , nȳr ) near adv.1, while the adjectival form nēarra became Middle English nerr nar adj.; the Old English superlative nīehst , nīehsta survives as next adj., adv., and n. By the end of the Middle English period phonetic changes meant that these forms were no longer clearly perceived as related to the positive, and so new analogical comparative and superlative forms arose (e.g. nigher , nighest ), which have been in common use ever since. With the rare early Middle English adverbial and prepositional forms naȝen , neȝen (both attested only in the Otho manuscript of Laȝamon's Brut) compare Old English nēan (adverb) from nearby, near, close at hand; perhaps compare also the form negȝen (one isolated attestation in the Auchinleck manuscript of Floris & Blauncheflur), although this is more likely to be a scribal error as the rhyme is with heiȝe . With Middle English forms with final -t perhaps compare the development of excrescent -t in graft n.1, tuft n., etc. (see further E. J. Dobson Eng. Pronunc. 1500–1700 (ed. 2, 1968) II. §437). = near adv.2 (which in all senses has taken the place of nigh except in archaic or regional use). A. adv. (and prep.) I. With complement, denoting proximity in place, time, etc. * With noun or noun phrase as complement (in Old English in dative case). (In modern English grammar usually treated as prep.) 1. With verbs of motion. the world > space > distance > nearness > [adverb] the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > [adverb] > near (expressing motion) OE (Northumbrian) xv. 29 Cum transisset inde iesus uenit secus mare galilaeae : mið ðy oferfoerde ðona ðe hælend cuom æt uel neh sæ. OE Cynewulf 635 Ða wæs gelæded londmearce neah ond to þære stowe þær hi stearcferþe þurh cumbolhete cwellan þohtun. OE 2289 He to forð gestop dyrnan cræfte dracan heafde neah. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1978) l. 10308 Heo..stikeden & sloȝen al þat heo neh comen. c1390 (Vernon) (1967) 320 (MED) Hit eode hire herte swiþe neih. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) i. 2322 (MED) The more he cam the welle nyh, The nerr cam sche to him ayein. a1400 (a1325) (Trin. Cambr.) 8041 Whenne þe kyng coom neȝe þo trees he kist hem. 1517 R. Torkington (1884) 30 No Cristen man ys not suffered for to come ny it. 1566 W. Adlington tr. Apuleius iii. f. 31v If by vertue of the ointment I shall become an Owle, I will take heede that I come nigh no mans house. 1600 W. Shakespeare ii. ii. 18 Neuer harme, nor spell, nor charme, Come our louely lady nigh . View more context for this quotation 1681 J. Dryden 6 He..for a Calm unfit, Would Steer too nigh the Sands. 1731 G. Medley tr. P. Kolb II. 118 When he is hungry, he looks for an Ant-Hill; and coming nigh the same, he lays him down. 1781 R. B. Sheridan v. ii I am almost ashamed to come nigh 'em. 1827 J. F. Cooper I. iv. 59 None will follow, if they hear it is not safe to come nigh the lodge of a Sioux. 1851 H. Melville vi. 37 As though they were drawing nigh the odorous Moluccas instead of the Puritanic sands. 1878 J. H. Beadle xii. 183 The Old School Baptisses never went nigh the Methodis' meetin' house. 1928 D. H. Lawrence viii. 111 Winter time Ah ned 'ardly come nigh th' pleece. 1948 Z. N. Hurston xvii. 154 Held in an embrace so warm and so tight that the Booger Man..could never come nigh her. c1400 (c1378) W. Langland (Laud 581) (1869) B. xx. 4 (MED) It neighed nyeghe þe none. c1475 tr. C. de Pisan (Cambr.) (1977) 98 (MED) It happed that..it drewe nye the ende of the terme whiche he had sett. 1823 Ld. Byron xxxv. 18 Some said her years were getting nigh their summer, Others contended they were but in spring. a1890 E. Waugh (1893) I. 222 It wur gettin' nee bed time. 1902 B. Kirkby in (1903) IV. 270/2 [Kent] It's getting nigh dinner time. 2. Denoting location. OE 2830 Se widfloga wundum stille hreas on hrusan hordærne neah. OE (Julius) 22 Aug. 186 His lichama is bebyrged neah Sancte Paules ciricean þæs apostoles. lOE (Parker) anno 1031 An scip flotigende swa neh þan lande swa hit nyxt [mæge]. c1300 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Otho) 27553 He..smot þan eorl Beduer a-forn neȝen þan breoste. c1330 (?c1300) (Auch.) 1508 To him he smot swiþe smert þurch þe bodi ful ney þe hert. c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. ix. 298 (MED) Thou poyntest neih þe treuthe. 1483 ( tr. G. Deguileville (Caxton) (1859) i. xix. 19 Long tyme he had hyd hym self neyhe me. 1485 (Caxton) iv. xxvii. sig. h.vv She broughte hym there as was a turnement nyghe the marche of walys. 1575–6 in J. Raine (1845) 267 The said Thomas laye in a newke nigh the fier. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) i. ii. 217 Pro. But was not this nye shore? Ar. Close by, my Master. View more context for this quotation 1667 J. Milton ix. 514 A Ship..Nigh Rivers mouth or Foreland, where the Wind Veres oft. View more context for this quotation 1704 13 Nov. 2/1 The Indians having been seen the night before nigh the Town. 1759 13 Aug. 2/3 (advt.) A Gentleman who lodges at Widow Darcey's nigh the Ship-Yards, opposite to William Walton's, Esq. 1770 in J. A. Picton (1886) II. 257 No gate shall be erected nigher Liverpoole than the four mile stone. 1826 J. F. Cooper II. iii. 52 They had reached a bay, nigh the northern termination of the lake. 1853 H. Melville Bartleby i, in Nov. 549/1 At the numerous stalls nigh the Custom House and Post Office. 1888 ‘R. Boldrewood’ I. xxi. 296 I runs his horses up into a yard nigh the angle of his outside paddock and collars this little 'oss. 1916 J. Barlow For Company in 9 Yon's his cap I hung nigh the poor Master's. 1931 J. Stephens 1 As bird to nest, when, moodily, The storm-cloud murmurs nigh the tree, Thus let him flee. 1956 Hall Coll. in (1996) III. 802/1 He was born over nigh the Chucky River. 1977 19 Aug. 10/2 Smallholders who very often have land nigh new estates in the villages. eOE (Mercian) (1965) v. 4 (6) Non habitabit iuxta te malignus : ne eardað neh ðe awerged. OE (Northumbrian) ii. 9 Angelus domini stetit iuxta illos : engel drihtnes s[t]od æt uel neh ðæm. lOE (Laud) anno 1105 Þa þe þam eorle Willelme of Mortoin ahwær neah wunedon. c1230 (?a1200) (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 161 Halde we him neh us wið smeal of gode werkes. a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden (St. John's Cambr.) (1874) V. 357 In his ȝowþe he was..bismer to kynges þat wonede nyh [v.r. neiȝ] hym. c1390 (Vernon) (1967) 370 Ich hit seih And tolde hit to Riht þat stood me neih. a1500 (?a1450) (Harl. 7333) (1879) 6 Ofte tyme he vsid to ligge ny þe fire. 1551 R. Crowley sig. Bvi Such men as were nygh you dwellynge. 1637 J. Shirley iv. sig. G2 Come Muses all that dwell nigh the fountaine, Made by the winged horses heele. 1703 M. Chudleigh Song of Three Children in Natives of Asia, and Pamphylia's fertile Soil, With such as dwelt nigh the Ægean Shore. 1795 24 Oct. (advt.) 3/3 To be sold, a fine stand for a Blacksmith, with a House, Barn, Blacksmith's Shop and Coal House..for further particulars enquire of the subscriber, living nigh the premises. a1849 J. C. Mangan (1903) 82 The ten valiant heroes who dwelt nigh the Nore. 1867 W. Morris ii. 21 Still shalt thou stand nigh my father's throne. 1904 J. C. Harris 75 I'll tell you 'bout de Frog what live nigh de mill. 1922 J. Joyce ii. xiv. [Oxen of the Sun] 369 She set it forth all to him that time was had lived nigh that house. 3. As complement of the verb to be. OE (Northumbrian) xix. 11 Hæc illis audientibus adiciens dixit parabolam eo quod esset propre hierusalem : ðas ðæm geherendum togeecde cuoeð þæt geddung forðon wære neh hierusalem. OE (1932) lxxviii. 4 We synd gewordene wera cneorissum eallum edwitstæf ymbsittendum, þe us ahwær neah nu ða syndon. c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 17918 He wass neh an casstell tun. a1225 ( Ælfric's Homily In Die Sancto Pentecosten (Lamb. 487) in R. Morris (1868) 1st Ser. 95 Þes fares icunde is þet hit forðnimeð swa hwet him neh [OE Royal gehende] bið. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1963) 2883 He ferde swiðe hehȝe; þere weolcne he wes swiðe nih [c1300 Otho neh]. c1300 Holy Cross (Laud) 4 in C. Horstmann (1887) 1 Alle þe heþene men þat neiȝ him were. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) ii. 1115 (MED) That noman were nyh the stede. c1500 Pilgrims Sea-voyage 70 in F. J. Furnivall (1867) i. 40 (MED) When that we shall go to bedde, The pumpe was nygh oure beddes hede. 1579 E. Spenser July 89 The hilles bene nigher heven. 1694 (Royal Soc.) 17 984 They are so nigh the Shoar, that a Man may almost fling a Finger-stone on Board. 1736 tr. C. Rollin VI. 256 The drops which were nighest the torches, taking fire on a sudden. 1844 C. J. Lever II. lxxv. 201 The spar that bore it [sc. the flag] was nigh the clouds. 1897 B. Stoker xxvi. 358 Gin we were nigh a ship, or a port, or a headland, a fog fell on us and travelled wi' us. 1904 J. Rhoades 106 He would not enter in, but to a church Betook him, which was nigh the town. OE Cynewulf 782 Is þam dome neah þæt we gelice sceolon leanum hleotan. OE 95 Þonne æfter þeossum þingum biþ neh þæm seofoþan dæge. c1230 (?a1200) (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 210 A sunne dei mid wei bitweonen þet [Candlemas Day] & easter, oðer ure leafdi dei ȝef he is neh þe sunne dei. a1300 in R. Morris (1872) 142 (MED) Þis world is neyh þan ende. c1300 (?c1225) (Cambr.) (1901) 464 (MED) Horn tok his leue, For hit was neȝ eue. c1390 G. Chaucer 4340 It is ny day; I may nat dwelle. c1400 (?c1390) (1940) 1922 (MED) Þenne þay helden to home, for hit watz nieȝ nyȝt. a1470 T. Malory (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 117 He..slepte tylle hit was ny nyght. eOE (Mercian) (1965) xxxiii. 18 (19) Iuxta est dominus his qui tribulato sunt corde : neh is dryhten ðissum ða geswencedre sind on heortan. OE (1932) liv. 19 Hit wæs his heortan gehygde neah. a1225 (c1200) (1888) 129 (MED) Uirginitas is an swiðe derwurðe mihte..ðe folȝið ðe hali lombe and him his neȝest. c1275 (?c1250) (Calig.) (1935) 1252 Hwanne ich iseo þat sum wrechede Is manne neh, inoh ich grede. c1330 (?a1300) (1886) l. 3016 (MED) Sir canados was þan Constable, þe quen ful neiȝe. c1400 J. Wyclif (1871) III. 423 Nevereþoles summe godes ben more nyghe God. a1500 (?a1450) (BL Add. 9066) (1879) 388 This woman was seke, and ney childe byrth. 1611 Psalms lxxxv. 9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iv. ii. 73 To do worse to you, were fell Cruelty, Which is too nie your person. View more context for this quotation 1662 K. Evans & S. Chevers 21 I told her..how I did not fear the face of any man, though I did feel their arrows, for my Physician is nigh me. 1870 Feb. 192 I have been down to Westerly, to stay with Jonathan's father, who was nigh death for quite a while. 1894 R. O. Heslop (at cited word) Aa wis nigh lossin me hat. 1962 W. Dykeman 95 He thinks she's mighty nigh perfection itself. ** With a prepositional phrase as complement. 4. With to or unto, as in senses A. 1, A. 2, and A. 3. the world > space > distance > nearness > near to [preposition] OE (Northumbrian) vi. 19 Triginta uident iesum ambulantem super mare et proximum naui : ðrittig geseað ðone hælend geongende ofer uel on ðæm sæ & neh to scipp. OE (Tiber. B.iv) anno 1052 On þam ilcan gere hergode Griffin se Wylisca cing on Herefordscire, þæt he com swyþe neah to Leomynstre. ?c1335 in W. Heuser (1904) 129 (MED) Man, þou hast þe forlor And ful neiþ to helle ibor. ?a1425 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius iv. met. v. 2 The sterres of Arctour, ytorned neygh to the sovereyne centre or poynt. a1450 (a1338) R. Mannyng (Lamb.) (1887) i. 1654 Þe ffrankysch þenne cast a cry, þerfore men drowe to þeym ney. a1450 (Faust.) (1883) 885 (MED) Edgar rode ouȝt..In to a forest neyȝt to his place. 1484 W. Caxton tr. i [He] wente and lodged hym withynne a Temple nyghe to a Frendes hows. 1535 John vi. 23 There came other shippes from Tiberias, nye vnto ye place where they had eaten the bred. a1572 J. Knox Hist. Reformation Scotl. in (1848) II. 355 This great cumpany that approcheth neyest to us will do us no harm. 1581 R. Mulcaster xl. 226 The scholers..be bourded at their charges somewhere verie nigh to the schoole. 1600 J. Pory tr. J. Leo Africanus v. 262 The citie of Tunis standing vpon a plaine hath no mountaines nigh vnto it. 1671 J. Sharp ii. iv. 109 The womb ofttimes receives a great confluence of water from the spleen or from some parts nigh unto it. 1680 R. Morden (1685) 163 Nigh to this place. 1704 in (1852) II. 182 Being the neighest to their place of Abode. 1726 W. Broome in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer IV. xvi. 12 The Prince advancing drew Nigh to the lodge. 1767 B. Thornton tr. Plautus Shipwreck i. iii, in B. Thornton et al. tr. Plautus II. 278 Who are those people yonder Nigh to the shore, Sceparnio? 1795 J. P. Kemble ii. ii. 19 The mountain-top Looks beautiful, because 'tis nigh to Heav'n. 1823 J. F. Cooper I. v. 73 The arm, that was extended, bent, and brought the hand nigh to his face. 1870 R. W. Buchanan Two Voices in I. 339 Swiftly, my Sister! stand nigh to me. 1875 E. Tweddell 44 He was gettin' neegh te t'brig. 1901 W. N. Harben 136 He reckoned the nigher people got to the railroad the furder they wus from the cross. 1904 J. K. Jerome v Joey turned to the man sitting nighest to him..and suggested in a whisper that it was about time they went. a1930 R. Bridges Autumn in (1936) 156 Ever nigh she came To Aphrodite's temple where she hied. 1980 S. A. Brown 235 This Salem is of Virginia, nigh unto Roanoke. This is a poem for Rose Anne. c1425 J. Lydgate (Augustus A.iv) i. 3886 (MED) He was..ful nyȝe of allye To Hercules. 1560 J. Knox et al. Buke Discipline in J. Knox (1848) II. 187 To break..[the bread] with other, we think nyest to Christis actioun. 1569 R. Grafton II. 785 They were good men and true to the king and to nie to the Queene. 1611 Lev. xxi. 3 His sister a virgin, that is nigh vnto him. View more context for this quotation 1649 E. Reynolds (new ed.) vi. 91 It is necessarie for us to draw nigh unto God. 1673 E. Settle v. 60 My mourning Soul durst ne're one thought encline, To sense of Joy, till it drew nigh to Thine. 1761 R. Glover i. i. 2 Human virtues More nigh to Heav'n's perfection may be rais'd, Than human grandeur. 1803 W. Dunlap ii. ii. 32 If I divine aright, We fast draw nigh to some unlook'd for good. 1826 J. F. Cooper II. iii. 47 This change had brought them nigher to each other. 1896 ‘Iota’ 183 We've crossed each other's paths these many years, for all..we haven't come very nigh to one another. 1916 C. M. Doughty iv. 91 Mans thousand households, in Earths wasteful field, Languish forspent! and beasts lie nigh to death. 1960 J. Barth ii. xxxii. 482 But ye was that ill to begin with, it came nigh to fetching ye off. 1982 V. M. Sloane 4 If you hear someone say of another person, ‘He is nigh to me,’ it represents a closeness, a belonging to each other, that no one nor anything can come between. 1993 J. Byrne (BNC) My lady looks pale nigh unto death and you stand there gabbling like a half-wit. II. Without complement, denoting proximity in place, time, etc. (In many uses indistinguishable from an adjective used predicatively). 5. Of place or position. eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory (Hatton) (1871) li. 399 Her is an lytele burg swiðe neah. OE (Northumbrian) xiv. 42 Surgite eamus ecce qui me tradit prope est : arisað gæ we uel wuntun geonga heono seðe mec selleð neh is. c1300 (c1250) (Cambr.) (1966) l. 461 Þis maide þoȝte anonriȝt Þat hit was Floriz..For here chaumbres niȝ were. a1350 in G. L. Brook (1968) 37 (MED) Heo haþ browes bend an heh, whyt bytuene ant nout to neh. c1385 G. Chaucer 1526 Ful litel woot Arcite of his felawe That was so neigh to herknen al his sawe. a1500 tr. Thomas à Kempis (Trin. Dublin) (1893) 48 (MED) Whan ihesu is nye [L. adest], all godenes is nye. 1579 (c1501) G. Douglas Palice of Honour (Edinb.) 318 in (1967) 29 Thairby I vnderstude that scho was nie [?1553 London nee]. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) ii. i. 43 Heere comes your man, now is your husband nie . View more context for this quotation 1671 J. Milton i. 332 We sometimes..come forth To Town or Village nigh (nighest is far). View more context for this quotation 1687 J. Norris To his Muse in iv Where with noise the waters creep Turn off with Care, for treacherous rocks are nigh. 1722 E. Thomas 55 If Company he saw, Modestly he would withdraw; But if no Body were nigh, To Sulpitia's Lap he'd fly. 1789 W. Blake Shepherd in He is watchful while they are in peace, For they know when their Shepherd is nigh. 1821 P. B. Shelley i Methinks she must be nigh. 1840 F. Marryat xxx. 210 I got many a kiss when no one was nigh. 1887 J. C. Harris 109 Some folks mought take a notion hit wuz a long ways off, an' then, ag'in, yuther folks mought take a notion that hit wuz lots nigher. 1921 H. Williamson 87 But oh, Jim, love, thank a-God ee were nigh. eOE tr. Bede (Tanner) iv. iii. 266 Æfter þon he underþeodde & him sægde, þæt se dæg swiðe neah stode his forðfore. a1200 (?OE) MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris (1873) 2nd Ser. 189 (MED) Þe fleshliche lustes..beoð þe smeðere him to biswikende for þan þe þei nehȝie wunien [read neh ȝiewunien]. c1384 (Royal) James v. 9 Lo! the iustice stondith nyȝ bifore the ȝat. a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil (1959) x. xiv. 5 Hys helm of steill besyde hym hang weil ne. 1567 J. Maplet f. 26v Doth not the Uine loue and embrace the Elme & prospereth the better, the nigher one is set by another? 1616 B. Jonson Speeches at Prince Henries Barriers in 971 [The fire] shootes along againe, or round doth turne, Till in the circling spoile it hath embrac'd All that stood nigh. 1684 J. Harington 4 Porter himself had been Rambling that Morn to th' Ale-house standing nigh. 1751 T. Gray xx. 9 Some frail memorial still erected nigh. 1791 W. Cowper tr. Homer Iliad in I. ix. 248 Then bespake Patroclus standing nigh. 1843 J. J. Audubon VI. 21 A jug of sparkling Newark cider stands nigh. 1898 T. Hardy 220 When the vast result looms nigh, In profit you shall stand as I. OE (1931) 2051 Hildewulfas herewicum neh gefaren hæfdon. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1978) l. 8681 Þas stanes beoð græte. & longe ȝe mote neh gon & neodliche heom fon on. ?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng (Petyt) ii. 203 (MED) He ne wist it ȝolden was tille he com so nehi. 1485 (Caxton) xii. i. sig. L.viii Come not to nyȝ for and thow doo..I wille slee the. a1572 J. Knox Hist. Reformation Scotl. in (1846) I. 204 A galay that approched neyar then the rest was so doung with the cannoun. 1591 E. Spenser sig. A4 Approaching nigh, his face I vewed nere. 1618 B. Holyday ii. vi When they were drawne nigh, they both appear'd Cole-blacke. 1667 J. Milton v. 82 So saying, he drew nigh . View more context for this quotation 1729 H. Carey (ed. 3) 7 At last the God drew nigh, and gently laid His sacred Body near the sleeping Maid. 1790 V. viii. 1617 They came so nigh, that we could discern, with our glasses, the deserters fastened together. 1790 A. Francis 213 I mark'd when young Albert drew nigh. 1825 J. Neal I. 332 The..dog would not leave him; but crawled nigher. 1879 R. Browning Ivan Ivanovitch in I. 92 What help, as nigher and nigher, The flames came furious? 1892 P. H. Emerson 8 I got nighest so I went first. 1901 J. W. De Forest 78 One Who spies the monsters creeping nigh And hears them snarl, yet cannot run. 1972 F. Mowat x. 120 We took the habit of saving the herring out of the cod bellies and heaving it overboard when she come nigh. 1535 Prol. Euery one doth his best to be nyest the marke.., yet shuteth one nyer then another. 1590 R. Greene i. 4 [He] with a dart that wounded nie Pearst my heart as I did lie. 1671 J. Milton iv. 486 Other harm Those terrors..did me none.., though noising loud And threatning nigh . View more context for this quotation 1915 C. Johnson (1916) 195 I felt his teeth graze my leg. I gorry! if he'd been a very little nigher he'd have got me! society > travel > travel by water > directing or managing a ship > use of wind > [adverb] > close to the wind a1687 Duke of Buckingham Cabin-boy in (1705) II. 101 Nay he could Sail a Yatcht both nigh and large. eOE (Mercian) (1965) vii. 51 Quia prope est dies perditionis eorum : forðon neh is deg forlorenisse heara. OE 1742 Bið se slæp to fæst..bona swiðe neah. OE 107 Magon we þonne nu geseon..þæt þisses middangeardes ende swiþe neah is. a1325 (c1280) (Pepys 2344) (1927) 237 (MED) Þe tyme was ney Of þe ffrut to gadery. c1384 (Douce 369(2)) Joel ii. 1 The day of the Lord cummeth, for niȝ [L. prope] is the day of derknessis and myst. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 14908 (MED) For he þe time sais command nei þar he for mans kind wil dei. 1535 James v. B The commynge of the Lorde draweth nye. c1540 (?a1400) 7808 The night was so nighe, þat noyet hym sore. 1559 W. Baldwin et al. Montague f. xxxv Than wo and wracke, desease, and nede be nyest. a1641 T. Heywood & W. Rowley (1655) v. i. 44 Gentlemen, your limited hour draws nigh. 1653 A. Collins 94 Gray hairs presage to them the end is nigh. 1667 J. Dryden cii. 26 Till the fresh air proclaim'd the morning nigh. 1710 A. Philips vi. 24 The bloomy Season of the Year is nigh. 1789 E. Hands 73 They sat till the mist that arose from the brook, Inform'd them the ev'ning was nigh. 1828 N. Hawthorne ix. 106 His courage..did not fail him, as the moment of need drew nigh. 1866 J. M. Neale 130 The hour is nigh—far nigher may it be Than yet I deem. 1908 J. Payne 137 But the end of night is nigh And the darkness in the East is greying, greying. 1934 C. L. Carmer 156 The Lord tol' me to dress this way and go tell the Pope his time is nigh. 1991 22 Feb. 2/5 The end of Britain's much envied university system is nigh. society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > [adverb] > closely the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > [adverb] > intimately or familiarly > (of friendship or connection) closely OE (Claud.) vi. xii. 250 Ne geweorðe, þæt Christen man gewifige in VI manna sibfæce on his agenum cynne, þæt is binnan þam feorþan cneowe, ne on þæs lafe, þe swa neah wære on woroldcundre sibbe. a1382 Ruth (Bodl. 959) iii. 12 (Bod 959) Ne I denye me to ben neeȝ [a1425 L.V. of nyȝ kin; L. propinquum], but þer is an-ooþer neer þan I. c1449 R. Pecock (1860) 272 (MED) Thilk ioynyng..to Goddis persoon..is more or lasse nyȝer or romber. c1510 Gest Robyn Hode in F. J. Child (1888) III. v. 78/2 The pryoresse of Kyrkesly, That nye was of his kynne. 1549 M. Coverdale et al. tr. Erasmus II. 2 Cor. v. f. liv [He] coumpteth hym nyghest of his kynne, whiche hath in his promisses moste affiaunce. 1628 W. Mure Doomesday 534 in (1898) I. 180 How more sublime the Object bee, The Union inward and more nie. III. Denoting approximation in degree, amount, etc. 8. Nearly, almost, all but. See also well-nigh adv.the world > relative properties > relationship > similarity > [adverb] > almost or nearly the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > part of whole > [adverb] > for the most part eOE Acct. Voy. Ohthere & Wulfstan in tr. Orosius (BL Add.) (1980) i. i. 14 Þa Finnas..& þa Beormas spræcon neah an geþeode. OE tr. Pseudo-Apuleius (Vitell.) (1984) cxxxvii. 176 Heo hafað leaf neah swylce mistel. c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 3206 Till þatt he waxenn wass. & neh Off þrittiȝ winnterr elde. c1300 St. Brendan (Laud) 714 in C. Horstmann (1887) 239 (MED) Þou schalt sone out of þis world; þi lijf is neiȝ atþende. a1325 (c1250) (1968) l. 1234 His moder wurð neg dead for frigt. 1340 (1866) 76 Huerof al þe worlde ys nyeȝ begyled. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) Prol. 884 (MED) This ymage is nyh overthrowe. a1470 T. Malory (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) II. 805 The quene was nyghe oute of her wytte. a1500 (?a1450) (Harl. 7333) (1879) 40 By chaunce, I was ny dreynt in a water. 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart I. xviii. 25 They were nigh so feble that it shulde haue ben great peyne for them to haue goon any forther. 1590 E. Spenser i. iii. sig. C3 Nigh dead with feare..Shee found them both. c1650 J. Spalding (1851) II. 32 Now I haue nigh done. 1667 J. Milton x. 159 To whom sad Eve with shame nigh overwhelm'd,..thus abasht repli'd. View more context for this quotation 1679 ‘Ephelia’ 40 I..have writ This whimsey, that has nigh nonplust my wit. 1760 (Royal Soc.) 51 33 The marble finely powdered, and aqua fortis effused over it, the marble particles were nigh destroyed. 1817 P. B. Shelley x. xxxv. 229 And thrones, which rest on faith..nigh overturned. 1867 G. W. Harris 218 Everybody wer skar'd durn ni outen thar wits. 1872 Ld. Tennyson 50 The wood is nigh as full of thieves as leaves. 1916 J. C. Lincoln 64 God would knock anybody's head off. Mine pretty nigh come off when she said that. 1942 M. Campbell 8 The little one was nigh tuckered out. 1989 Jan.–Feb. 13/1 The camera is nigh impossible to invade. the world > relative properties > quantity > approximate quantity or amount > [adverb] > nearly (of amount) OE (Tiber. B.i) anno 1055 Ða gaderade man fyrde geond eall Englaland swyðe neah. c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 1892 Marrch was þa Neh all gan ut till ende. a1325 (c1250) (1968) l. 833 Neg ilc burge hadde ise louereding. c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) 4025 (MED) Hit is ney vif ȝer þat we abbeþ yliued in such vice. a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden (St. John's Cambr.) (1871) III. 147 (MED) He..made fre ny fifty þowsand men. 1530 (Fawkes) (1873) ii. 249 Nye all that knew hym fleyng away from hym. 1559 W. Baldwin et al. Dk. of Suffolk, vii I gave nie five times five assaultes. a1572 J. Knox Hist. Reformation Scotl. in (1848) II. 357 Thair fell ney a hundreth. 1672 P. Leycester ii. i. iii Ethelred..restored Caerleon,..and made it nigh such two as it was before. 1735 10 May 3/1 A black Horse nigh 14 Hands high, with a short Switch Tail. 1750 B. Franklin (1987) 1257 The Earth's Circumference was said to be nigh 4000, instead of 24000 Miles. 1849 A. Harris I. ix. 196 There must be very nigh a hundredweight of meat there. 1890 A. C. Bickley I. i. 8 Yer had to carry this baäg nigh ten mile a day. 1896 G. Chanter i Father he were huntsman..for nigh forty year. 1901 G. B. Shaw Capt. Brassbound's Conversion i, in (1971) II. 334 And how have ye been..since our last meeting that morning nigh forty year ago? 1926 E. M. Roberts 308 It's nigh 20 mile. 1981 (Nexis) 24 Dec. 23 The director has been doing variations on ‘Boheme’ for nigh 20 years now. 1988 (Nexis) 19 Feb. The Kuwait Investment Office now has nigh 20 per cent of BP's equity. eOE xxx. 9 Ne mæg hio þeah gescinan..ahwærgen neah ealla gesceafta. lOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius (Bodl.) xviii. 41 Eall moncynn & ealle netenu ne notigað nawer neah feorðan dæles þisse eorðan. c1225 (?c1200) (Bodl.) (1938) 38 (MED) Þis lutle ich habbe iseid of þet ich iseh in heouene, ah nower neh ne neh [read seh] ich al. c1400 (c1378) W. Langland (Laud 581) (1869) B. iii. 145 (MED) She..may neiȝe as moche do in a moneth one, As ȝowre secret seel in syx score dayes. 1556 J. Heywood xiii We haue well begonne, but nothing nigh doone. 1559 P. Morwyng tr. C. Gesner 141 They attain un-to a certain incorruption as nye as may be. 1567 in (1888) App. iii. 154 [To] make an estymate as neight as they can, what the Charges of the doyng thereof will amount vnto. 1630 J. Taylor 33 Oure owne Countrey doth afford vs heere Iewels more precious, nothing nigh so deere. 1691 J. Norris 1 The thorough Fool is not nigh so great a Prodigy as the Half-wise Man. 1700 M. Pix iv. 32 A neat place this, Toby; but our House i'th' Country was nigh as hansome. 1796 F. Burney III. vi. vi. 258 I don't say it's my best... However, I believe it's pretty nigh as good as that I had on that night I saw you at Mrs. Purdle's. 1839 C. Dickens xii ‘Heyday!..One would suppose I had been murdering somebody at least.’ ‘Very nigh as bad,’ said Miss Squeers. 1860 H. T. Craven 15 But you don't look nigh so delighted as you ought to! a1864 J. Clare (1984) I. 617 And when I see an angel face There's something—nothing nigh so fair. 1882 M. R. Banks ii. 29 Hiz heart wuz'n nigh ser cumbersome ez it had ben. 1916 J. W. Riley By any Other Name in 1384 Country folks ain't allus Nigh so shameful unpolite As some people call us! 1972 F. Mowat v. 59 He looked nigh as big as the coastal boat. the world > relative properties > relationship > similarity > [phrase] > nearly or almost the world > relative properties > quantity > approximate quantity or amount > approximately (an amount) [phrase] > nearly (an amount) a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris (1873) 2nd Ser. 33 Adam..ledde after him neih þan al his ofspreng. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1978) l. 11147 Þa Irisce men weoren nakede neh þan. the world > relative properties > quantity > approximate quantity or amount > approximately (an amount) [phrase] > nearly (an amount) the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > freedom from error, correctness > exactness, accuracy, precision > closeness to accuracy > [adverb] the world > relative properties > relationship > similarity > [adverb] > almost or nearly 1632 W. Lithgow iv. 149 Nigh about the same time it is obserued that Boniface the third begun his Empire. 1824 L. H. Sigourney viii. 112 They all go to the deestrict-school, more than ha-af o' the winter; though it's nigh upon two mild [sic] from the house. 1835 J. P. Kennedy (1852) xxxviii. 415 You are the identical particular lady that I have rode nigh on to five hundred miles to see. 1839 Feb. 206 My stars..if it has not cost the King nigh on tew hundred dollars to plough that 'ere piece. 1854 C. Dickens i. xi. 86 I were one-and-twenty myseln; she were twenty nighbut. 1870 F. P. Verney x. 123 I'm nighabouts twice eighteen. 1887 S. Baring-Gould III. xlii. 10 It nigh on broke your dear mother's heart. 1904 R. Sabatini ii Those broad lands that for nigh upon twenty years have been in usurping hands. 1953 E. Jones I. ix. 172 His father..was now nigh on seventy. 1996 5 Apr. 13/1 Nigh onto two years ago..Frau Broom and I decided to move into the country. 2002 19 Sept. 176/1 It has become nigh-on impossible for us to tell any of the nu-metal bands from one another. the world > relative properties > relationship > similarity > [adverb] > closely (of resemblance) the world > relative properties > relationship > difference > [adverb] > not nearly or far from being a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1963) Kings Prol. 2 Þe tunge forsoþe of Syriis & of caldeis witnesseþ to ben anentis þe Ebrues two and twenti lettres, þe whiche of a gret partye neeȝ costeyȝeþ to Ebru. c1387–95 G. Chaucer 732 Who so shal telle a tale after a man, He moot reherce as neigh as euere he kan Euerich a word. c1475 (a1400) J. Wyclif (1880) 339 Men þat..ben full nyȝ to synne aȝeyne han no penaunce of her synne. ?a1535 To City of London (Vitellius) in J. Small (1893) II. 277 No Lord of Parys, Venyce, or Floraunce In dignytie or honoure goeth to hym nye. 1565 T. Cooper at A To be in case verie nie to be a banished man. a1627 T. Middleton (1657) ii. 58 If my Bowl take bank, I shall go nigh To make my self a saver. 1666 J. Bunyan §154 This [sin] came nighest to mine of any that I could find. 1708 P. A. Motteux v One of those Worthy Persons will go nigh to be made a Field-Bishop. 1743 J. Bulkeley & J. Cummins 119 We answered them that the Water was smoother without, and nothing nigh the Sea that runs within. 1822 J. Neal iii. 23 The terror of a midnight alarm, came nigh depopulating a beautiful little village, making fathers and husbands the murderers of all that they loved on earth. 1852 N. Hawthorne vi. 667 I knew it well..at that time; although, afterwards, it came nigh to be forgotten. 1894 ‘A. Hope’ xix The ball came nigh doing its work, for it struck the sword he held. 1914 4 155 I come nigh breaking my best china platter this morning. 1965–70 in (1996) III. 802/1 He'd come as nigh helping as anybody. the world > space > distance > nearness > [adverb] > nearly or closely c1387–95 G. Chaucer 588 His berd was shaue as neigh as euer he kan. c1450 ( G. Chaucer (Fairf. 16) (1879) 19 For I am shave as nye as any frere. 1496 Treat. Fysshynge wyth Angle in (rev. ed.) sig. hiijv Kytte of the lynys ende and the threde as nyghe as ye maye. 1563 sig. Ssss.iiiiv Chargyng the owners, not to gather vp theyr corne too nye at haruest season..but to leaue behynde some eares of corne. 1587 L. Mascall (1627) 98 To heale the kibes, ye shall cut them forth as nie as ye can. B. adj. (chiefly attributive). 1. Denoting proximity. In later use chiefly in comparative and superlative. the world > space > distance > nearness > [adjective] OE Prudentius Glosses (Boulogne 189) in H. D. Meritt (1959) 86 [Ex frutectis] proximis : neagum. lOE (Royal 4 A.xiv) 3 Þu scealt north eonene to þan nihgan berhge. a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1961) Lev. xiii. 21 Ȝif..þe nyȝe flesch [L. vicina carne] is not lowere, he shal reclose him seuene daiȝes. a1450 (a1338) R. Mannyng (Lamb.) (1887) i. 5941 (MED) To ney neygheburs & ferþer fro, Til alle he dide skaþe & wo. ?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden (Harl. 2261) (1865) I. 299 The nyer Speyne to theis costes begynnethe from the hilles Pirene. a1500 (?1382) J. Wyclif (1871) III. 175 (MED) Þei schulde restore men þat þei have robbid, or ellis neyȝghe neiȝbores þat hadde riȝt to þese godes. 1541 T. Elyot xii. f. 22v By the examynation of theyr nyghest neybours. 1590 E. Spenser iii. xii. sig. Oov She heard a shrilling Trompet sound alowd, Signe of nigh battaill, or got victory. 1598 F. Bacon Hypocrites in (1862) 117 Vnto this ordinance that other Hipocrisie is a nigh neyghbour. 1684 J. Norris 70 Are we affraid of making too nigh advances to the State of Angels? 1711 Fingall MSS in (1885) App. v. 131 They had orders to remain at the nigher end of the four mile pass. 1812 S. T. Coleridge Frost at Midnight (new ed.) in 532 The nigh thatch Smokes in the sun-thaw. 1827 J. F. Cooper I. i. 23 The distance, from this place to the nighest point on the main river. 1868 W. Morris 96 [He] seized the nighest ship. 1885 W. B. Yeats in May 83 I'll send mine arrow, now my one resource; The nighest blossom where it falls I'll take. 1913 H. Kephart 121 The nighest State dispensary..is sixty miles. society > travel > means of travel > route or way > way, path, or track > [adjective] > of roads or directions: straight, direct 1516 St. Bridget (Pynson) in J. H. Blunt (1873) p. li Thy doughter by the nyghest waye shall goo vnto the kyngdome of heuyn. 1547 (1640) i. Whoredom i. 80 Is there any nigher way to lead unto damnation? a1652 R. Brome (1657) iv. i I am so far from being their hinderance, That I have sent them both the nighest way. 1765 R. Rogers (1883) 136 The General..ordered me..to proceed across the Chestnut Plain the nighest and best way I could, to Lake Champlain. 1823 W. Scott III. ix. 245 The nigher and the safer road to Liege. 1876 Dec. 266/2 [I'm going to] pack my bits o' duds i' a wheelbarrow, an'..tak' th' nighest road to th' Union. a1887 E. Lazarus Dance to Death i. iii, in (1889) II. 85 Sir, can you help me to the nighest way Unto the merchant's house. 1915 J. C. Lincoln iii I see now why you come by the Barnes' house, Kenelm. It's the nighest way home from that clubhouse. 1981 J. McPhee 74 Even in miles the nigher route proved longer than the one it was shortcutting. the world > existence and causation > causation > [adjective] > of or relating to types of cause 1551 T. Wilson sig. Liijv Good hede ought to bee had,..that the nigh causes, & the farther causes, be not taken all for one. 1620 T. Granger 49 The father is the nighest cause of the sonne. the world > space > relative position > quality of having sides or being a side > [adjective] > situated at the side > left 1722 No. 6063/4 A white Heel on the Nigh Leg behind. 1823 J. F. Cooper I. v. 76 It was only pulling hard on the nigh rein, and touching the off flank of the leader. 1844 H. Stephens I. 626 The nigh trace-chain of the nigh horse is hooked to the end..of the swing-tree. 1844 H. Stephens II. 540 The nigh-side shaft being laid upon the side-rail. 1868 Oct. 486/2 These [mule teams] were guided by negro drivers, who sat upon the nigh-wheelers, armed with long whips. 1898 E. N. Westcott xxv. 245 He was stun-blind on the off side, an' couldn't see anythin' in pertic'ler on the nigh side. 1903 A. Adams ix. 131 The nigh wheeler in Joe Jenk's team..was missing. 1939 H. W. Thompson (1962) 503 The off-ox is the stronger and more reliable of the pair—you drive oxen from the left (nigh) side. 1994 R. Hendrickson 167 Nigh horse, a term heard in northern California for the horse on the left side of a team. society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > [adjective] > closely the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > [adjective] > intimate or familiar > (of relatives or friends) close OE (Nero) ii. lxx. §1. 356 Ac beo be his dihte seo æht gescyft swyðe rihte wife & cildum & nehmagum. OE tr. Felix (Vesp.) (1909) xii. 146 Þær wæs mycel menigo manna gegaderod his maga and eac oþra his nehfreonda. c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 13537 He wass off dauiþess kinn Neh sibb wiþþ sannte MaRȝe. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1978) 10260 Ne bi-læfde he her neouðer..quene ne næh cun. c1400 (c1378) W. Langland (Laud 581) (1869) B. xii. 95 (MED) For kynde witte is of his kyn and neighe [v.r. nyȝ] cosynes bothe To owre lorde. a1470 T. Malory (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 115 Thys lady ys my kynneswoman nye, my awntis doughtir. c1538 in A. J. Archbold (1892) 93 Doctor Tregonwell..hath obteigned the same for a nygh frende of his. 1604 A. Craig sig. B Of royall blood her nyest agnat heyre. 1650 J. Trapp (Num. xviii. 22) 37 Gods Kinsmen,..according to some translations, or his nigh-Ones. 1907 J. M. Synge iii. 60 It'a a hard story..the way some do have their next and nighest raising up a hand of murder on them. the mind > possession > retaining > niggardliness or meanness > [adjective] 1555 W. Waterman tr. Josephus in tr. J. Boemus sig. X.j There cometh not so greate profite to the owners by the nighe gatheryng. 1856 P. Thompson 716 Nye, near, stingy, mean. 1866 J. E. Brogden at Nye Although holding a good position in the county he is a nye man. 1936 D. T. Lutes 216 My uncle Frank was what the neighbors called ‘a little nigh’. He not only hated waste..but he was a shade less generous in all his dealings than most. 1995 J. M. Sims-Kimbrey 205/1 'E wunt even lend me the loan uv 'is bootscraper if I ast 'im, e's that nigh. †4. the world > relative properties > quantity > approximate quantity or amount > [adjective] > coming near in amount 1557 R. Record sig. Diiv Thei will helpe you to gesse at the nigheste rootes of nombers that be not square. 1888 F. T. Elworthy (at cited word) 'Twas the nighest chance in the wordle, eens the gurt piece o' rock had-n a-come down tap o' my 'ead. †C. n.society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > kinsman or relation > [noun] > close relative a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1961) Lev. xxi. 2 Oonly in cosynys & ny [a1425 L.V. niȝ of blood; L. propinquis], þat is, opon fader & moder & sone, [etc.]. a1382 (Bodl. 959) xxiii. 11 Þe neeȝ [a1425 L.V. neiȝbore; L. Propinquus]..of þem is strong. a1425 (Stonyhurst) f. 69 Vicinus, a neȝborwe or nyȝ. ?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden (Harl. 2261) (1872) IV. 155 (MED) The grownde scholde be taken to the nyeste of his bloode. Phrasesthe world > space > distance > nearness > near by [phrase] ?c1225 (?a1200) (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 184 Þet beð fondunges keoruinde of nech [c1230 Corpus neh; a1250 Nero neih] & kene. a1382 (Bodl. 959) Esther ix. 20 Þe Jewis, þat in alle þe prouyncis of þe king dwelleden, boþe in neeȝ sett & afer. c1450 in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker (1884) I. 578/12 Deprope, fro ny. 1490 W. Caxton tr. (1885) iii. 101 Charlemagne followed theym well of nyghe. the world > space > distance > nearness > near by [phrase] a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 15709 (MED) He es cummand negh at hand. 1535 2 Esdras ii. 34 He is nye at hande, that shal come in the ende of the worlde. c1540 (?a1400) 1948 Þere Nestor the noble Duke was negh at his hond. 1590 E. Spenser i. i. sig. A4 To seeke some couert nigh at hand. 1653 H. More ii. §7 The World of Life, which is everywhere nigh at hand. 1671 J. Milton i. 20 The great Proclaimer..cri'd..Heavens Kingdom nigh at hand . View more context for this quotation 1727 L. Welsted 8 Already see! the Veil withdrawn! And, nigh at hand, thy Mercies dawn. 1790 W. Paley 271 He now regards the decision of his fate as nigh at hand. 1847 E. Brontë I. xiii. 318 Aw niver did think tuh say t'day ut aw mud lave th'owld place—but aw daht it's nigh at hend! 1887 T. Hardy II. iii. 47 I wonder now if my daughter knows you are so nigh at hand? 1896 L. Binyon 10 Ploughman ploughing nigh at hand Along the open hazy land. 1953 M. Traynor 197/1 Nigh-at-hand, close to, nearby. the world > space > distance > distance or farness > [adverb] > far and near eOE tr. Bede (Tanner) iv. iv. 274 Eode þa ymb monige stowe ge neah ge feor. OE (1932) 542 Ge neh ge feor is þin nama halig.] c1400 (?a1300) (Laud) (1952) 3846 (MED) Many londes, neiȝ and ferre, Lesen her lorde in þat werre. a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. (Rawl.) (1898) 208 (MED) By the eyghen know we..thynges neygh and ferre, meuynge and restynge. 1599 J. Davies 9 Mine Eyes, which view all obiects, nigh and farre. 1818 J. Keats iv. 199 Our friends will all be there from nigh and far. 1855 Nov. 461 Parterres of seaweed..floating nigh and far. 1923 C. M. Doughty (rev. ed.) v. 185 Tidings from nigh and far, with joyful steps; Brought daily his elves, to Oberons faerie court. CompoundseOE tr. Bede (Tanner) iv. xii. 290 Heo hire sægde þa neahtide hire geleornesse. eOE tr. Bede (Tanner) iv. i. 254 Tæhte þa þam biscope in þæm neahnunnmynstre sumne gedefne munuc. OE (Nero) ii. lxx. §1. 356 Ac beo be his dihte seo æht gescyft swyðe rihte wife & cildum & nehmagum. OE tr. Felix (Vesp.) (1909) xii. 146 Þær wæs mycel menigo manna gegaderod his maga and eac oþra his nehfreonda. OE Wærferð tr. Gregory (Corpus Cambr.) (1900) ii. i. 100 His nama wæs cuð geond ealle þa neahstowa. C2. Adverbial. a. With the sense ‘close’, ‘closely’. (a) the world > space > distance > nearness > [adjective] > very near 1429 IV. 345/1 The saide Toune of Teukesbury is nygh adjoynaunt to the Rever of Severne. the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > [noun] > drawing near c1384 Ephes. (Douce 369(2)) iii. 12 Crist Jhesu, oure Lord, In whom we han trust and nyȝ comynge [L. accessum]. a1500 (?a1425) tr. (Lamb.) 97 Setynge, remuynge & neghcomyng, sterynge & rest. 1906 C. M. Doughty V. xviii. 64 They fence an hill Eastward, against the nigh coming of the Romans. society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabitant > type of inhabitant generally > [noun] > neighbour 1867 G. M. Musgrave II. 145 These quarrymen..would prove more troublesome nigh-dwellers than they in fact are. 1986 18 July 778/2 A neighbour's demands..are likely to be either non-existent or expensive to his nigh-dwellers. 1556 N. Grimald tr. Cicero ii. f. 88v Letting, nyedwellinges, and partieboundes, to be iust & gentle. a1834 S. T. Coleridge (1912) I. 441 Like some poor nigh-related guest, That may not rudely be dismist. 1883 A. Domett (rev. ed.) II. iv. i. 7 Both might..share The nigh-related Chief's protecting care. (b) 1591 E. Spenser Prosopopoia in 742 Now his bright armes assaying,..Now the nigh aymed ring away to beare. b. With the sense ‘almost’, ‘nearly’, ‘approximately’. 1603 J. Florio tr. M. de Montaigne ii. viii. 224 An old, crazed, sinnowe-shronken, and nigh-dead father. 1991 (Nexis) 15 Sept. 21 Prominent Commie-bashers..who want the Europeans and Japanese to fend for themselves now that Russian militarism is nigh-dead. 1649 J. Ogilby tr. Virgil (1684) ii. 91 Nigh-destroyed Realms. 1598 F. Rous ii. sig. O 2v O cease (quoth they) to make an ouerflow Ouer the bounds of our ny-drowned mindes. 1897 10 July He caught the hair with his hands and pulled the nigh-drowned child from the water. 1868 W. Morris i. 125 The nigh-ebbed windless sea In the still evening murmured ceaselessly. 1971 Apr. 30/1 Supplementing the nigh-inevitable preface. 1864 Ld. Tennyson Enoch Arden in 37 On the nigh-naked tree the Robin piped. 1998 (Nexis) 9 Feb. d7 A clip from a European skincare commercial that showed a nigh-naked Ritzma plunged into a bathtub of ice-cube-filled water. 1927 R. McN. Scott in 29 Where nigh-silent rippling Goes the brown Brook down, Low down the valley, stripling. a1774 A. Tucker (1777) III. iv. 371 The nigh spent hourglass of time. 1906 H. W. Foght vii. 107 To have seen the sheriff lashing his foaming and nigh spent horses up hill and down hill, across creeks and canyons [etc.]. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online June 2022). <  v.lOE adv.prep.adj.n.eOE |
