Middle English Dictionary Entry
neigh tō phr.
Entry Info
| Forms | neigh tō phr. Also nigh-, nuȝ-, neiȝt-, neith-. |
| Etymology | From neigh & tō prep. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Near to (sb. or sth.) in space, close to; to the vicinity of, almost to; also fig.; comp. neigher to, nearer to; ful ~, near (sb., hell); to ~, too close to (sth.); ~..sighte, in (someone's) view, in close contact with (someone); comen ~, drauen ~, neighen ~, to approach (sb., a place), come close to; duren ~, lasten ~, extend almost to (a place, part of the body); ficched ~, assigned a place near (sth.); iturned ~, turned toward (sth.), oriented around; stonden ~, stand close to (sb.); assist (sb.), help; (b) of events or seasons: closer in time; (c) close to (sth.) in condition or nature; similar to (sb. or sth.) in nature or appearance; ~ the soth, ~ treuth, near (the) truth; ~ hele, near wholeness or health.
Associated quotations
a
- ?c1335 Loke to þi louerd (Hrl 913)20 : Man, þou hast þe forlor And ful neiþ to helle ibor.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)1 Kings 22.7 : He seiþ to hise seruauntis þat stooden neeiȝ to hym, heereþ me now.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)1 Par.28.21 : Þe deuysiouns of preestis & of leuytes..schul stondyn neeȝ to [WB(2): niȝ; L assistunt] þee.
- (c1392) ?Westwyk EPlanets (Peterh 75)24/5b : The eccentrik of the sonne..be nat filed to ney to the closere of his signes.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3726 : Paris neiȝeþ nyȝe To þe place.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.m.5.2 : Whoso that ne knowe nat the sterres of Arctour, ytorned neygh to the sovereyne centre or poynt..schal..wondryn of the lawe of the heye eyr.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.6.124 : Some thinges..stablely ben ifycchid neygh to the firste godhede.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)44/18 : Þere begynneth the vale of Ebron, þat dureth nygh to Ierusalem.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)62b/a : Ȝif he be disesed, remedie maie be leide to on þat parte þat þe xij spondiles ben and aforne fro þe ffurcelle oþer þe forcer nye to [*Ch.(1): nerehand to; Ch.(2): nyhand to; L vsque ad prope] þe nauel.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)68b/b : Þe lengþe off him is of þe lengþe of a palme, and he lasteþ nye to þe reynes.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)90 b/a : Þe nyer to þe wounde, þe faster bindinge.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)30/3 : A particuler profyȝt is þat which is do to hem þat ben moore nyȝh to ȝoure siȝt.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)403/28 : Wiþ his lippis he drawiþ nyȝ to me, but his herte is fer fro me.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)885 : Edgar rode ouȝt..In to a forest neyȝt to his place.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)96/24 : They come neghe to Vennys.
- (1480) Plea & Mem.R.Lond.Gildh.136 : I..recommende..my body to be buried..nye to the Tombe where as sir John Fraye knyght..now lieth buried.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)976 : Euer it happith..That Tiraunys be ful nye to a kinge.
- a1500 Leg.Cross BC(1) (Wor F.172)220 : Ther was a man of custom in the regioun adiacent or liggyng nygh to thendis and boundis of Jerusalem.
- a1475 Sidrak & B.in Centaurus 12 (Lnsd 793)218/5333 : Nyhe to þe air, her way þei take.
- -?-(1467) Will in Som.RS 16198 : Item, that the blynde man which dwellith in Sherborne or nygh to the towne..may have that he of right owith to have.
b
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Heb.8.13 : It eeldys and waxis oold; it is neegh to [L prope] deth.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)1678 : Some [roses] ther ben of other moysoun That drowe nygh to her sesoun.
- a1450 Diseases Women(2) (Sln 2463:Singer)37 : Ther ben manye women that hauen many diuers maladies and seknesses nyhg to þe deth.
c
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.1.71 : Myn Aristotles..diffynysseth this thing by schort resoun, and nygh to [L propinqua] the sothe.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)60a/b : Euery dry þing is nyȝ to [Ch.(2): nygh to; L propinquum] hole, moiste forsoþ to noȝt hole.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)155b/a : Ypocras seiþ þat euerye wounde moste be dried, ffor dryenesse is nyȝe to hele.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)178a/a : A surgien..maie wele vnderstonde..whiche of þe forseid medicines be febel and which be stronge be estimacioun nye to treuþe.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)67 : A stok corven lijk a man in alle fetouris and colouris so nyȝ to a quyk man þat he semyþ to be quyk..is no trewe man but a countirfeet man.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)35a/b : It is riȝt nyȝ to þe kynde & nature of heuenly þingis.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)1888 : Such thingis..be Of litill composicion, and nye to simplicite.
2.
(a) Nearby; (b) present, here.
Associated quotations
a
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)17a : Here owe þey..to take good hede..þat he caste him euene on þe pale or nuȝ to.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Judg.20.7 : Ȝee been neeȝ to [Corp-O: nyȝ to; WB(2): present; L adestis], alle þe sonys of israel; demeþ what ȝee owyn to don.
3.
Favorable to (one's good intentions), encouraging to.
Associated quotations
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)8/26 : Do þat in þe is, & god shal be nye to þy gode wille [L aderit bonæ voluntati tuæ].
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1475 Awntyrs Arth.(Tay 9)p.20 : Neȝtehond Syr Wauan wold wede.
Note: New cpd.