Nigh
[naɪ]
Definition
(superl.) Not distant or remote in place or time; near.
(superl.) Not remote in degree, kindred, circumstances, etc.; closely allied; intimate.
(a.) In a situation near in place or time, or in the course of events; near.
(a.) Almost; nearly; as, he was nigh dead.
(v. t. & i.) To draw nigh (to); to approach; to come near.
(prep.) Near to; not remote or distant from.
Checked by Amy
Synonyms and Synonymous
a. Near, adjacent, adjoining, contiguous, close by, close, close at hand, bordering upon, not far off, not distant, approximate to, hard by.
ad. Near, nearly.
prep. Near, close to, close by, not far from.
Checked by Fern
Definition
adj. near: not distant in place or time: not far off in degree kindred &c.: close.—adv. nearly: almost.—prep. near to: not distant from.—adv. Nigh′ly nearly: within a little.—n. Nigh′ness the state or quality of being nigh: nearness.
Typist: Wesley
Examples
- Well,' said Mr. Pickwick, as Sam and his companion drew nigh, 'you will see how your health becomes, and think about it meanwhile. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- If the gentleman's servant would wheel along the paths, he could keep nigh us, and we could lift it over the stiles, and that. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- A great bank, half a mile out, nigh the mouth of the bay, breaks the force of the main ocean coming in from the offing. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
- I was awful nigh bursting out a laughing though, when it made John stare! Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- Seeing him draw nigh, burying his broad wheels in the oppressed soil--I, the prostrate votary--felt beforehand the annihilating craunch. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- The barber soaped my face, and then took his razor and gave me a rake that well nigh threw me into convulsions. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- Although it seemed a well-nigh hopeless task, he entered upon the investigation with his usual optimism and vim. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- Barely, said Gurth, though the sum demanded was more reasonable than he expected, and it will leave my master nigh penniless. Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- Nigh on an hour since, sir. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
- Let him seek here the mighty brawn, the muscle, the abounding blood, the full-fed flesh he worshipped: let all materialists draw nigh and look on. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- By Heaven, Malvoisin, yonder girl hath well-nigh unmanned me. Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- When he went to it again, Em'ly was nigh him. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- I left her for dead, and if there had been a limekiln as nigh her as there is now nigh you, she shouldn't have come to life again. Charles Dickens. Great Expectations.
- Ours is well-nigh out by the look o't. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
- Pretty nigh, old chap. Charles Dickens. Great Expectations.
- And if you've got holsters to that saddle o' yourn, don't let me see your hand go nigh 'em. Charles Dickens. A Tale of Two Cities.
- When I come nigh and looked in through the glass, I see the faithful creetur Missis Gummidge sittin' by the fire, as we had fixed upon, alone. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- If any should come nigh, they shall see the old widder woman true to 'em, a long way off. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- Hypochondria has that wont, to rise in the midst of thousands--dark as Doom, pale as Maladyand well-nigh strong as Death. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- And it is now well-nigh the fitting time to summon the brethren to breakfast in the refectory--Ah! Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- Divers young ladies watched them afar off, but ventured not nigh. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been woven round him. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
- We've got nigh on a hundred left, I think, sir; but if it weren't fur you, sir, gittin' that idear of the boat, we'd be all dead men, for sure. Fergus Hume. The Island of Fantasy.
- I'm awful dull, but I hope I've beat out something nigh the rights of this at last. Charles Dickens. Great Expectations.
- The attentive husband may judge by certain prognostics when the storm is nigh at hand. Benjamin Franklin. Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin.
- Thou'rt not like to forget her now, and me so nigh her. Charles Dickens. Hard Times.
- Warn't it I started off de hosses, dis yer mornin' and kept 'em chasin' till nigh dinner time? Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin.
- The hour of Argyle's appointment drew nigh, arrived, and passed away, without my leaving my house. Harriette Wilson. The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson.
- He had a trick or two which used to make the officers sick, and he ate so voraciously that he well nigh bred a famine in the mess-room. Harriette Wilson. The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson.
- Isolation on a heath renders vulgarity well-nigh impossible. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
Typist: Wesley