Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

nigh

 - 3 dictionary results

nigh

  [nahy] adverb, adjective, nigh⋅er, nigh⋅est, preposition, verb
Use nigh in a Sentence
–adverb
1. near in space, time, or relation: The time draws nigh.
2. nearly; almost; (often fol. by on or onto): nigh onto twenty years.
–adjective
3. near; approaching: Evening is nigh.
4. short or direct: to take the nighest route.
5. (of an animal or vehicle) being on the left side: to be astride the nigh horse.
6. Archaic. parsimonious; stingy.
–preposition
7. near.
–verb (used without object), verb (used with object)
8. Archaic. to approach.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME nigh(e), neye, OE nēah, nēh, c. D na, G nahe, ON nā-, Goth nehw, nehwa; cf. near, next
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To nigh
nigh   (nī)   
adv.   nigh·er, nigh·est

  1. Near in time, place, or relationship: Evening draws nigh.

  2. Nearly; almost: talked for nigh onto two hours.

adj.   nigher, nighest

  1. Being near in time, place, or relationship; close. See Synonyms at close.

    1. Being on the left side of an animal or vehicle: pulling hard on the nigh rein.

    2. Being the animal or vehicle on the left: the nigh horse.

prep.  Not far from; near.
tr. & intr.v.   nighed, nigh·ing, nighs
To come near to or draw near.

[Middle English neigh, from Old English nēah, nēh.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

nigh 
"near," O.E. neah (W.Saxon), neh (Anglian), common Gmc. (cf. O.Fris. nei, M.Du. na, O.H.G. nah, Ger. nah, Goth. nehwa), with no cognates outside Gmc. The O.E. progression was neah - near - niehsta, for "nigh - near - next." But the comp. near and the superl. nehst gradually evolved into separate words not felt as related to nigh. New comp. and superl. forms, nigher, nighest, developed 1300s as phonetic changes obscured the original relationships.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see nigh on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way