(chiefly in older New England and Midland US dialect)
preposition
1.
near; close to
adverb
2.
nearby; close by
Word origin
[1765–75; a- (as in anear) + nigh]This word is first recorded in the period 1765–75. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: backwash, copperhead, guidance, lightweight, statement