Middle English Dictionary Entry
neigh adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | neigh adj. Also neighe, neiȝ(e, neiȝh, neiȝghe, nei(e & nẹ̄gh(e, neȝ(e, neh, nẹ̄, (early SWM) næh, (error) nehi & nīgh(e, niȝ(e, niȝh, nih(e, nī(e, (early infl.) nihgan; comp. negher, nigher, niȝer, niher, nier; sup. neiest, neghest, neȝest, nieste. |
| Etymology | OE; cp. A nēh, WS & K nēah. Comp. & sup. are ME formations. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Near (in space), nearby; close together; adjacent, surrounding; ~ costes, borders; to ~, too close together; ~ biside, near; fer and ~, ~ and fer (wid), far and near, near and far; -- often as metrical filler with reduced meaning; (b) near (in time), soon to come, approaching, imminent; weies ~, immediate means; (c) sup. neighest, next in a series.
Associated quotations
a
- c1150 Wenne Wenne (Roy 4.A.14)3 : Þu scealt north eonene to þan nihgan berghe.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)2883 : He ferde swiðe hehȝe; þere weolcne he wes swiðe nih [Otho: neh].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)4996 : Hire hem heo up i-tæh; hire cneon he wes swiðe nehi.
- c1300(c1250) Floris (Cmb Gg.4.27)461 : Þis maide þoȝte anonriȝt þat hit was Floriz..For here chaumbres niȝ were.
- a1350 Most i ryden (Hrl 2253)26 : Heo haþ browes bend an heh, whyt bytuene ant nout to neh.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)3892 : Þilke lord þat woneþ an heye, Þat al þing walt fer & neye..ȝif ȝou alle his malisoun.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1179 : William þe ȝong kniȝt was so neiȝh be-side, þat he herd þe pytous pleint.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Gen.22.1 : God temptide abraham & seide to hym 'Abraham'..he answerde 'I am nyȝ [WB(2): present; L Adsum].'
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Lev.13.21 : Ȝif þe heer is of þe raþer colour & þe fel wounde vnder deerk & þan þe nyȝe flesch [L vicina carne] is not lowere, he shal reclose him seuene daiȝes.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Num.34.9 : Þe neeȝ costis [alt. to: confynys] sholyn goon vnto effrona & þe toun of Enan.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Deut.3.16 : To þe lynagys of Ruben & gad yc haue ȝeue þe lond of Galaad vnto þe streem of arnon, half of þe streem, & þe nyȝ coost [L confinium] vnto þe streem of Ieboch.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1526 : Ful litel woot Arcite of his felawe That was so neigh to herknen al his sawe.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.27 : Yf þe trees of þat wode falle into a water oþer grounde þat þere in nyh and lye þere alle aȝere, þe trees torneþ into stones.
- c1390 Þe wyse mon in (Vrn)83 : Bettre is a neiȝebore neiȝe Þen a broþur fer fro þin eiȝe.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3396 : This nye Nicholas stood in his lighte.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.4949 : Of his men non myhte knowe Wher he becam, for non was nyh.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)3846 : Many londes, neiȝ [vr. nyȝh] and ferre, Lesen her lorde in þat werre.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.658 : Þei seille by costys neȝe or ferre.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)2507 : Þe neghest way þan gan he wele, Until he come to þe chapele.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)1844 : I was so nygh, I myghte fel..the swote odour.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)7b/b : Assum, ades: to be nyȝ.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)172b/a : A medicyne incarnatif, aggregatif, or consolidatif..is þat þat drieþ or þikkeþ þe humidite standing atuix þe two nye [L propinquas] superficitez of a wound.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)5941 : To ney neygheburs & ferþer fro, Til alle he dide skaþe & wo.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)473 : If any man be fer or nye Þat to my seruyse wyl buske hym boun..He schal be kyng and were þe croun.
- c1450 Mandev.(4) (CovCRO Acc.325/1)1369 : Alle maner wilde foule nyȝ and wide Of dyuers londis ferre about, That daie thei cometh without dout.
- c1450 Mandev.(4) (CovCRO Acc.325/1)1688 : Euer hit semeth fast hym by, And euermore he is liche ny.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)144.330 (v.2:p.431) : Manye heritagis leffth hym by testamentys he forsok and seyde that thoo awt rathere be leffth to the dedys chyldryn or to here ny kyn.
- a1500(?1382) Wycl.Wks.Mercy (NC 95)175 : Þei schulde restore men þat þei have robbid, or ellis neyȝghe neiȝbores þat hadde riȝt to þese godes.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)208/20 : By the eyghen know we..thynges neygh and ferre, meuynge and restynge.
- 1532(?a1400) RRose (Thynne)3627 : I saw the Rose, whan I was nygh, Was greatter woxen and more high.
b
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)237 : Þe tyme was ney Of þe ffrut to gadery.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1283 : Þe niȝt was so neiȝh þat non miȝt sen oþer þe furþe del of a furlong.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Judg.14.15 : & whan þe seuenþe dai was neegh, þei seidyn to þe wif of Sampson, 'fage to þi man & moeue hym þat he schewe to þee what betokneþ þe probleme.'
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Joel 2.1 : The day of the Lord cummeth, for niȝ [L prope] is the day of derknessis and myst.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.24.32 : Lerne ȝe the parable of a fyge tree: Whenne his bouȝ..is now tendre and leeuys sprungen, ȝee witen that somer is niȝ.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1489 : Arcite..litel wiste how neigh that was his care.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.411 : Peter knewe þat his ende day was nygh.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Rom.13.11 : Now is oure hele negher [L propior] þan we han trowyd.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.69 : Comynge of siche signes bitokeneþ þat þer blisse is neiȝe.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.39/34 : The houre of the nyghe deith abidynge, presente was seynt Barthilmewe mercyfully.
- c1425 *Wycl.Concord.(Roy 17.B.1)148b : Tyme is nyȝ, apoc. firste cap.
- c1450 Wimbledon Serm.(Hat 57)26/2 : We mowne..wel and opynly schewyn þat þis day of wraþe is ney.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)7808 : The night was so nighe, þat noyet hym sore.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)44/1293 : Ye say ye wolle seke weyes ny To come to me.
- c1475 Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)157/7 : The pareill of the seigniour and of theimself, ner the doute of theire nygh destruccion, may nat withdrawe hem from thaire ill and dampnable custumes.
- a1500 Chartier Quad.(2) (Rwl A.338)148/5 : Wherefore the mischyff semid gretter, and the perill more nygh.
c
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)19510 : Philip, þat was o dekens an, þe neiest fra steuen, was slan.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)2920 : Þe secunde payn neghest folowande Es þe grete drede..Þat þe saul sal hafe..Until þe dome be gyfen.
2.
(a) Near by kinship, friendship, or allegiance; also fig.; ~ kin, ~ kinrede, ~ kinnes-man, ~ sibbe, ~ cosine, close relative; ~ of blood, ~ of linage, ~ of allie, close by blood or kinship; (b) in various fig. senses: near, close, friendly; reconciled (with sb.); ~ cause, proximate cause.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)13537 : He wass off Daviþess kinn, Neh sibb wiþþ Sannte Marȝe.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)10260 : Ne bi-læfde he her neouðer..quene ne næh cun.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)6159 : He slouȝ on of mi neye kin.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Num.35.19 : Þe nyȝ kyn of þe slawyn þe mansleere shal sleen.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ruth 3.12 : Ne I denye me to ben neeȝ [WB(2): of nyȝ kin; L propinquum], but þer is an-ooþer neer þan I.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Tob.6.11 : Heer is a man, reguel by name, neeȝ of þi lynage.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Prov.11.17 : Wel doþ to his soule þe mercyful man; who forsoþe is cruel casteþ away neeȝ men [WB(2): kynnesmen; L propinquos].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.309 : His sucessour and his nygh [vr. neiȝ] kynnesman, Ludecan, wolde awreke his deth.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2558 : Ye ne han bretheren ne cosyns germayns ne noon oother ny kynrede.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2566 : The kyn of youre enemys been ny [vr. nere] syb to hem.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.836 : After Glotonye thanne comth Lecherie, for thise two synnes ben so ny cosyns that ofte tyme they wol nat departe.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)180b/b : Þere for is an opynioun amonge hem þat þey be nyȝe kynne [L consanguineos] to þe gotes.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)12.95 : For kynde witte is of his kyn and neighe [vr. nyȝ] cosynes bothe To owre lorde.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3886 : He was..ful nyȝe of allye To Hercules.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.2042 : To hym..he was nyȝe of blod.
- (1439) *Proc.Chanc.PRO ser.C 1 file 9no.140 : The seid besecher..enfeoffed Wauter Whitley, hise nye cosyn.
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.166r : Ode and Radulph the kynges neigh men [L (Wm of Malmesbury): cognati,; L vr.: propinqui] were imade gouernours of this maynee and as they were atte see and hadde almoste oftake the skemours a wonder blak clowde sodeynlich came bytwyxxe the ij meynees that no man myght see other.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)108 : He wolde þat it were scyfftyd amongys hys ny kynne.
- (1461) RParl.5.469b : Oure dere and nygh Cousyn is honorably tumylate.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)115/5 : Thys lady ys my kynneswoman nye, my awntis doughtir.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)385/21 : She was ny cosyn unto the kynge.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)4.155 : The grownde scholde be taken to the nyeste of his bloode.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)3.30 : This is hir kynde coltis [not] to greue..Ne to wilne to woo þat were hem ny sibbe.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)163/7 : Hector hym well knew and that he his neye cosynne was.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)13284 : Þe wurse him wes ful neh.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Eph.2.13 : Ȝe that weren sum tyme ferr ben maad nyȝ [L prope] in the blood of Crist.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2585 : Causa longinqua and Causa propinqua -- this is to seyn the fer cause and the ny cause.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)103 : Lauedi scho es o leuedis all..to nedi neghest [Göt: neist; Frf: Next] on to call.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Eph.2.17 : He euangelisede þe pees to ȝou, þe whiche haddyn be fer, and pees to þem þe whiche were neygh.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)272 : Thilk ioynyng..to Goddis persoon..is more or lasse nyȝer or romber.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.14 : Vnwarly age comyth on me hastely..And sorow his eld haþ hoten to be ney [L inesse].
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)9/4 : Sometyme she [Fortune] estraungeth suche as war right nyghe.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)48/9 : Whan ihesu is nye [L adest], all godenes is nye.
- a1525(?1481) Cov.Leet Bk.485 : Ye shall deserve of my saide lorde such thanke as shall therby cause his highnesse to take you and them in the nygher remembraunce of his goode grace.
3.
As quasi-prep.: close to (sb. or sth.), near; intimate with (sb.), familiar to; comp. closer to (sb. or sth.); more in accord with (sb.) [quot.: (c1450)]; ful ~, very near (sth.); ~ that, on the point of (doing sth.), about to (do sth.).
Associated quotations
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)17273 : Þe hul swa swiðe hæh, þere weolcne he is ful neh.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)20097 : Colgrim him wes swa neh.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)129/14 : Uirginitas is an swiðe derwurðe mihte..ðe folȝið ðe hali lombe and him his neȝest.
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)3016 : Sir canados was þan Constable, þe quen ful neiȝe.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)234/33 : Manie þer byeþ ine paradis of ham þet habbeþ yby ine spoushod..þet more byeþ nier god þanne manye maydines.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Gen.12.11 : He was niȝ þat he schulde go into [WB(2): nyȝ to entre in to; L prope esset ut ingrederetur] Egypte.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3141 : Telle me why Thou bryngest hider so booldely Hym that so nygh [is] the roser.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)124a/b : Þe bone þat goeþ fro þe schulder to þe elbowe is broken summe tyme ouerþwert, & þe nier þat it is þe ioynt, þe harder it is to cure.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.186 : Þat Ryuere..is full nyhe [Chaucer Bo.: next; L propinquus] þe hote regioun.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)44/12 : Be-cause þat þese chanones..kepe mor streytly þe reule of Seynt Augustin..I suppose þat þei be nyher Seynt Augustin þan þe othir.
- a1456 Fresshest of colour (Trin-C R.3.20)5 : To neghe I am þe pittes brink.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)118/8 : We have a frende ryght nyghe the kynge, well cheryshed.
- c1475 Rwl.Prov.(Rwl D.328)p.126 : Þe nyer þe cherche, the ferder fowre good.
4.
?In surnames.
Associated quotations
- (1275) Close R.Edw.I175 : William le Neyman.
- (1296) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 1034 : Galfro atte Nelonde.