O.E. near "closer, nearer," comp. of neah, neh "nigh." Influenced by O.N. naer "near," it came to be used as a positive form c.1250, and new comp. nearer developed 1500s (see nigh). Originally an adv., but now supplanted in most such senses by nearly; it has in turn supplanted correct nigh as an adjective. In near and dear (1621) it refers to nearness of kinship. Verb meaning "to draw near" is attested from 1513. Nearly (1540) originally meant "carefully;" sense of "almost, all but" is from 1683. Near by "close at hand" is from c.1375. Near East first attested 1891, in Kipling. Near-sighted is from 1686. Near beer "low-alcoholic brew" is from 1909.
not far distant in time or space or degree or circumstances; "near neighbors"; "in the near future"; "they are near equals"; "his nearest approach to success"; "a very near thing"; "a near hit by the bomb"; "she was near tears"; "she was close to tears"; "had a close call" [ant: far]
2.
being on the left side; "the near or nigh horse is the one on the left"; "the animal's left side is its near or nigh side"
3.
closely resembling the genuine article; "near beer"; "a dress of near satin"
4.
giving or spending with reluctance; "our cheeseparing administration"; "very close (or near) with his money"; "a penny-pinching miserly old man" [syn: cheeseparing]
5.
with or in a close or intimate relationship; "a good friend"; "my sisters and brothers are near and dear" [syn: dear]
6.
very close in resemblance; "sketched in an approximate likeness"; "a near likeness" [syn: approximate]
adverb
1.
near in time or place or relationship; "as the wedding day drew near"; "stood near the door"; "don't shoot until they come near"; "getting near to the true explanation"; "her mother is always near"; "The end draws nigh"; "the bullet didn't come close"; "don't get too close to the fire"
2.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but; "the job is (just) about done"; "the baby was almost asleep when the alarm sounded"; "we're almost finished"; "the car all but ran her down"; "he nearly fainted"; "talked for nigh onto 2 hours"; "the recording is well-nigh perfect"; "virtually all the parties signed the contract"; "I was near exhausted by the run"; "most everyone agrees" [syn: about]
verb
1.
move towards; "We were approaching our destination"; "They are drawing near"; "The enemy army came nearer and nearer" [syn: approach]
Near\ (n[=e]r), adv. [AS. ne['a]r, compar. of ne['a]h nigh. See Nigh.]1. At a little distance, in place, time, manner, or degree; not remote; nigh. My wife! my traitress! let her not come near me. --Milton. 2. Nearly; almost; well-nigh. "Near twenty years ago." --Shak. "Near a fortnight ago." --Addison. Near about the yearly value of the land. --Locke. 3. Closely; intimately. --Shak. Far and near, at a distance and close by; throughout a whole region. To come near to, to want but little of; to approximate to. "Such a sum he found would go near to ruin him." --Addison. Near the wind (Naut.), close to the wind; closehauled.
Near\, a. [Compar. Nearer; superl. Nearest.] [See Near, adv.]1. Not far distant in time, place, or degree; not remote; close at hand; adjacent; neighboring; nigh. "As one near death." --Shak. He served great Hector, and was ever near, Not with his trumpet only, but his spear. --Dryden. 2. Closely connected or related. She is thy father's near kinswoman. --Lev. xviii. 12. 3. Close to one's interests, affection, etc.; touching, or affecting intimately; intimate; dear; as, a near friend. 4. Close to anything followed or imitated; not free, loose, or rambling; as, a version near to the original. 5. So as barely to avoid or pass injury or loss; close; narrow; as, a near escape. 6. Next to the driver, when he is on foot; in the Unted States, on the left of an animal or a team; as, the near ox; the near leg. See Off side, under Off, a. 7. Immediate; direct; close; short. "The nearest way." --Milton. 8. Close-fisted; parsimonious. [Obs. or Low, Eng.] Note: Near may properly be followed by to before the thing approached'; but more frequently to is omitted, and the adjective or the adverb is regarded as a preposition. The same is also true of the word nigh. Syn: Nigh; close; adjacent; proximate; contiguous; present; ready; intimate; dear.
Near\, a. [Compar. Nearer; superl. Nearest.] [See Near, adv.]1. Not far distant in time, place, or degree; not remote; close at hand; adjacent; neighboring; nigh. "As one near death." --Shak. He served great Hector, and was ever near, Not with his trumpet only, but his spear. --Dryden. 2. Closely connected or related. She is thy father's near kinswoman. --Lev. xviii. 12. 3. Close to one's interests, affection, etc.; touching, or affecting intimately; intimate; dear; as, a near friend. 4. Close to anything followed or imitated; not free, loose, or rambling; as, a version near to the original. 5. So as barely to avoid or pass injury or loss; close; narrow; as, a near escape. 6. Next to the driver, when he is on foot; in the Unted States, on the left of an animal or a team; as, the near ox; the near leg. See Off side, under Off, a. 7. Immediate; direct; close; short. "The nearest way." --Milton. 8. Close-fisted; parsimonious. [Obs. or Low, Eng.] Note: Near may properly be followed by to before the thing approached'; but more frequently to is omitted, and the adjective or the adverb is regarded as a preposition. The same is also true of the word nigh. Syn: Nigh; close; adjacent; proximate; contiguous; present; ready; intimate; dear.
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