proachv.
/prəʊtʃ/, U.S. /proʊtʃ/ Now rare (archaic and poetic in later use).
1. intransitive. To approach, come near. Also with to.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > relative time > the future or time to come > future [verb (intransitive)] > be imminent
comeOE
nigha1225
to draw nearc1330
approachc1374
drawa1375
to stand ina1382
to stand ona1382
instand1382
to draw ona1450
proacha1450
to draw nigha1470
to fall at handa1535
to hang by (on, upon) a threada1538
instant1541
to prick fast upon1565
impend1674
simmer1703
depend1710
loom1827
to knock about1866
to come up1909
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > move towards [verb (intransitive)] > specifically a person
to go upa1387
proacha1450
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > move towards [verb (intransitive)] > draw near
neighlecheeOE
i-nehleche971
to draw nearc1330
to nigh nighc1330
nighle1340
to-neighea1382
nigha1387
to draw nigh?a1400
nighena1400
to nigh neara1400
to draw ona1450
neara1522
to close about, on, round, upon1523
accost1571
anear1582
anigh1594
proach1600
appropinquate1623
to close in1704
a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Hist. Holy Grail xxxv. 392 To A passing gret Roch they proched wel Nere.
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) v. l. 987 The day was downe and prochand wes the nycht.
c1503 Kalendar of Shepherdes (1892) 173 Yf that the armed men proche me nere I shall them soone vaynquysshe euerychone.
1563 T. Sackville in W. Baldwin et al. Myrrour for Magistrates (new ed.) i The wrathful winter prochinge on a pace.
1600 E. Fairfax tr. T. Tasso Godfrey of Bulloigne vi. xxxix. 101 To make their forces greater, proaching nire.
1614 A. Gorges tr. Lucan Pharsalia ix. 365 Then wofull Cnæus did espy His countrey fellowes, proaching nye The Affricke coast.
1647 H. More Philos. Poems 55 With hovering wings she 'proch'd.
a1864 J. Clare Early Poems (1989) II. 54 Now the hour proaches his vows to repeat 'em.
a1916 J. W. Riley Compl. Wks. (1916) I. 101 And, 'proachin' on to my journey's end, The great big draps o' the rain come down.
2004 Express (Nexis) 24 July 15 Here, the clouds move in from the coast and look as if the black plague or Armageddon is proaching.
2. transitive. To approach (a person or thing). Now chiefly U.S. colloquial.
ΘΚΠ
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)]
to come at ——OE
ofseche?c1225
approachc1305
proachc1450
coast1531
to make up to1596
accost1597
c1450 Bk. Marchalsi (Harl. 6398) (1973) f. 14 (MED) Wanne þat þei [sc. horses] ben in herde to-gedre, þe gryffoun dar not prochen [v.rr. approche, komme nyh, pursue] hem.
1490 Caxton's Blanchardyn & Eglantine (1962) xx. 65 But non of them how hardy þat he was, durste not proche nor nyghe hym.
a1717 E. Baynard Health (1719) sig. A3v Why should Men dread a Cannon Bore, Yet boldly 'proach a Pottle-Pot?
1847 C. Dickens Dombey & Son (1848) xl. 405 No odious brutes must proach me 'till I've shaken off this numbness.
1887 Pall Mall Gaz. 3 Sept. 3/1 Mr. Calmour has a short and easy way with dissyllables which refuse to fit into his verse. He simply guillotines them, thus: ‘And redbreasts fearless 'proach the door’.
2007 alt.assassination.jfk 23 Aug. (O.E.D. Archive) Stern asked Sorrels why the expressway was proached from the Elm Street ramp instead of from Main Street just beyond the triple overpass at the westen boundary of Dealey Plaza.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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