Middle English Dictionary Entry
next(e adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | next(e adv. |
| Etymology | OE; for forms, see adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) In the nearest position, immediately after in space; at the closest range; ~ aboven (abouten, bitwene), immediately above (about, between); ~ therto, immediately nearby; (b) immediately behind; directly below.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)41a/a : Faste by þe humour cristallyn..is þe curtil þat hatte rethina..Next to þis rethina folwiþ þe secounde kertil.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)53a/b : The brest is þe ouere bony partye..& hatte pectus for he is next [L pexum; ?read: proxume] bitwene þe heedes of þe pappis.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)101b/a : First venym assaileþ þe noblest partye of þe body, þat is, þe place nexte a-boute þe herte.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)4206 : Who cam nexte leid his lyf to wedde.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)181 : Another ymage..Vilanye..saugh I..Upon the wal..And next was peynted Coveitise.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)276 : Bachus..sat hire besyde, And Ceres next.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)2.37.19 : Than maist thou se..lith in the zodiak..the begynnyng of the 12 hous next [vr. nex] above thin ascendent.
- (1475) RParl.6.144a : There shall be distribute and geve in almes xxiii s. iiii d. of laufull money..to the poore people then there beyng, or next therto inhabityng.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)1502 : Glose..sate next.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Mich.(LdMisc 108)420 : Saturnus is al a-boue and Iupiter sethþe next, þanne Mars bi-neoþen him.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.4118 : Now had Parys alle his prisoneris Set be-forn in ordre..And he rood next with þe quene Eleyne.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.366 : Al toforn went Dephebus, And Parys next and þanne Priamus.
2.
(a) Soonest, next time, immediately afterwards; again; also, immediately; (b) most recently, just; on the last occasion, last; also, previously, on previous occasions; (c) after ~, ~ after (ther-after), immediately afterwards; ~ herafter, immediately in the future; (d) ~ after (after-folwing, coming, folwing, onfolwing, seuing), then ~ folwing, ~ (nou) coming, of dates, times: immediately following; (e) ~ aforn (biforen), immediately before (a date or event); ~ after (ensuing, folwing, seuing), immediately following (a date, time, or event).
Associated quotations
a
- a1325 Prov.Hend.(Cmb Gg 1.1)st.21 : Wan man is in tene meste, Þan gode sendit him neiste Wate he bedit mid herte.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.443 : Canacee..wiste The faukon moste fallen fro the twiste Whan that it swowned next.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)9202 : Þe fyrst man was þe fadyr, þe prest, Þat deyd aftyr þe doȝtyr nest.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)19135 : Þe toþer dai þat folud neist [Trin-C: neest; Frf: atte was neiste], þai gedird vte bath prince and prist.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.829 : His sone Askanius..after Enee next be-gan succede.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.982 : Whan shal I next [vr. nexst] my deere herte see?
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)76/20 : Whanne þat sche scholde be nexte wiþ him..sche scholde aske him a yifte.
b
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)134/21 : Aȝein glutunie is his poure pitance..o rode..þe dei þet he wes baðe i sar swinc & ilete blod as ich nest [Nero: er] seide.
- c1230 Ancr.(Corp-C 402)36/24 : Ich..sunegi in oðre deihwamliche seoððen ich wes nest ischriuen.
- a1250 Ancr.(Nero A.14)144/20 : Ich habbe ibeon þus ofte wroð seoððen ich was ischriuen nexst [Cleo: nest; Pep: last].
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)5036 : Nou hit his seoue ȝer þat þou nexst were her.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)10344 : On o day..yn-to þe baþ ȝede þe prest And wesshe hym, as he dyd neste.
c
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1397 : Meliors..made hem as mocheioye..kessing hire fader, &..william next after.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)261 : Adam..To wham God hade geven..Alle þe blysse..And þose..þat lyved next after.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1572 : First by goddys ordynaunce, And after next thorgh fatys purveaunce..ȝe weren brouȝt into this lond.
- (1448) Doc.in Sundby Dial.Wor.(Eg Charter 608)255 : Thomas shal pay vnto..John xl li..the day of the seid mariag hadde xx marke, at Mialmas next ther aftur x marke.
- (1474) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)11.792 : We..Charge you that, suche Money of ours now being or nex hereafter commyng in or to your hands, ye Paye unto..Piers House..c lib.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)1940 : Nexst after come the kyng of Nicomede.
d
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2517 : Þei..rested þere..al þat longe day, & al þe niȝt next after.
- (1420) Let.in Ellis Orig.Let.ser.3.168 : Vp on Marie Magdaleyns day next comyng he wele by gynne take hys iourne.
- (1421) Indent.Catterick in Archaeol.J.758 : Ye tothir brandereth of ye tothire landestath to be laide be ye fest of ye Natiuite of seint Baptist yen next Eftyr folowand.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)23767 : In þe next on silghande [read: filghande] night..To gider he calde alle þe sexons.
- ?a1425 SLeg.(CmbAdd 3039)91/46 : Crist..steghed vp into heuen..þe thrid daye Neste aftre folowande.
- (1436) Doc.Trade in BRS 766 : John Trokmerton..vitailed oute apon werre a ship and a balynger..from the fest of Seynt Jame the apostle the xiiij yere of kyng Henr' the vj unto the fest of Seynt Michell then next folowyng.
- (1439) RParl.5.5b : We..graunt..certein Subsidies..of every sack of Wolle..of every Merchaunt Alien, goyng out of youre seide Roialme, fro the Fest of Seint Martyn in wynter next comyng, bi iii yere than next folowyng, liii s. iiii d.
- (1442) Rec.Norwich 2151 : Þis ordennaunce be gyune to take effect at Michelmas next nowe coming.
- (1448) Doc.in Sundby Dial.Wor.(Eg Charter 608)254 : John Blount shal..taken to his wyffe Katerryn..be twyne this and the Fest of Mihalmas next comyng.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)2.3.89 : I mene from xi of the clokke before the houre of noon til oon of the clokke next folewyng.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)9739 : On þe nyght nex foloand þen god spake to salamon.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)840/11 : So I woll ryde on Tewysday next commynge.
- (1472-3) RParl.6.60a : As if the same Shippyngs..had be made..before the vith day of Aprill next comyng.
- a1475 Siege Troy(1) (Hrl 525)193/1280 : The toder day next suyng, The knyghtis etyn with the kyng.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)48b/a : Dai natural..bigynneþ in þe morownynge of þe day and lastiþ vnto þe morownynge of þe day next folowynge.
- (1475-6) Doc.in Welch Hist.Pewterers Lond.49 : All the Worschupfull hole body of the Craft of peauterers..haue graunt & bounde them selfe..to cum to pay to the ffraternite..of euery dosen garnesch of rowgh vessel letyn to hyre aftr Cristmas day next comyng, j d.
- a1500 Discip.Cler.(Wor F.172)45 : Nedwy, the next suyng [day], secretly hid his Maister sheeris.
- a1500 Rule Minoresses (Bod 585)113/9 : Þe fest so fallinge schal be deferrid til monday nexst after.
- c1500(a1450) ALacrim.(Hrl 2274)p.278 : Vppon the morn next folowynge..thei led..My sone..Vnto pilate.
e
- c1300 Horn (LdMisc 108)52/960 : Horn child wonede þere Fulle sixe yere; Þe seuenþe, þat cam þe nexte After þe sexte, To Reymyld he ne wende.
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.23 : Yei shulle holden ye day of her fraternite euery yher on ye sonday next aforn ye feste of seynt Cristofore.
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.69 : Ye fyrst mornspeche schal be ye souneday next after ye drynkyng.
- (1411) RParl.3.650a : The same Robert..the Saterday neghst after the fest of Seint Michail..dyd assemble greet noumbre of men.
- (1422) Reg.Chichele in Cant.Yk.S.42 (Lamb 69)267 : I wole þat myn exectours ordeyn vij prestes to syng for me vij yere next foloyng my deth.
- (1426-7) Paston (EETS)1.8 : On the nyght next biforn þe feste of þe Circumcision of owre Lord Jesu..certeyns maffaisours..the yates..of þe seyd place hewen.
- c1432 Bishop Notes in PMLA 49 (Cmb Dd.14.2)455 : Vp wensday next be fore þe ffest of assumcion of oure lady.
- a1450(?1409) Vision Staunton (Roy 17.B.43)58 : Here begynneth þe reuelacion the which William Stavnton saw in Patrik is purgatorie the friday next after the fest of þe exaltacion of þe crosse.
- (c1470) Proc.Chanc.in Cal.PCEliz.2.p.lv : The seid hous shuld have be made redy to reyse by the fest of the nativite of Seint John Baptist next suyng the date of the seid indenture.
- (1474) RParl.6.108b : A Writte of Proclamation shuld be made..commaundyng theym..to make open Proclamation..afore the xve of Ester next ensuyng the forseid xxi day of Januar.
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)24/26 : Nexte aftur þe partycyoun & þe diuision of the temporalle rewle and gouernaunce of þus lond by kyngis yn the Chapture next by-forne.
- -?-(1425) Will in Som.RS 16113 : I bequethe 45 marcs sterlyng to fynde a covenable preest to synge for my soule..be 5 yeer next after my deth.
3.
(a) Immediately thereafter (hereafter) in a narrative, description, or sequence of events; her-after ~, immediately hereafter; (b) ~ aboven (biforen, toforen), immediately before in a discussion or discourse; ~ biforen going (biforen, formest), immediately preceding; (c) immediately afterwards in a series or order; ~ folwing, directly following.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.435 : So þat he þat schal dye first schal be slawe of hym þat schal dye next.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pri.(Manly-Rickert)B.1640 : I wolde demen that ye tellen sholde A tale next.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.256 : Next above alle othre schewe Of love I wol the propretes.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)27380 : I sal ham rekkin siþin on raw wiþ þaire braunchis here-ofter neste [Vsp: her-efter neist].
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.4662 : And nexte, I fynde how Polydamvs..was of gret þiknes.
- a1450 LFMass Bk.(Corp-O 155)128 : Swilke prayers I walde ȝe toke Als nexte folowes on the buke.
- a1456(a1402) *Trev.Nicod.(Add 16165)107a : Nexst he shal visyte yowe þat is ebore goddes sone of heven.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)9572 : Euere as a soule vp flees, Þenne draweþ it to þe breest, And to þe þrote it gooþ neest.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)11427 : Him bihoueþ to..foure large þinges somdel..Foure shorte þinges is no lak..Foure large þinges comeþ nest.
b
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)26877 : Þe quilk i tald þe of resun In þe neist [Frf: next] formast questiun.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)137/2 : I do in þis caas al þing as it is declarid next aboue [L superius].
- (1428) Doc.in Sur.Soc.859 : Richard Russell and oyer persones next before nevend..war at Cawod for yis mater.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)306 : Out of þis next bifore going trouþe folwiþ þe xiije trouþe.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)434 : Al þat is seid of feiþ in þis present chapiter and in the chapiter nexte bifore going muste nedis be vndirstonde of feiþ geten bi labour.
- (1444) RParl.5.123a : Item, that no man..occupie not the Office of Sergeantz..everych of hem upon the peyne of an c s. to be rered of hem..in fourme as it ys..next tofore rehersed.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)182/18 : It es expounde nexte be-for.
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)24/27 : Aftur þe partycyoun & þe diuision of the temporalle rewle and gouernaunce of þus lond by kyngis yn the Chapture next by-forne.
c
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)39a/a : Þer passeþ oute of him a corde & a ligament and ben spredde a-brode and bynden þe ioynte þat foloweþ nexte alle aboute.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)45a/b : Þen foloweþ nexte vnder hem þe substaunce of þe braine.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)66a/b : Ȝif enye þing eschaped framme one order, þe order nexte folowing schulde taken it.
4.
(a) Most closely in kinship; ~ boren, next of kin; (b) spiritually most closely; (c) most similarly; drauen ~ to, to resemble (sth.) most.
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.3282 : He..gaf in charge vn-to Thelamoun..Al his lyue to loue his broþer wel..As to þe nexte born of al his blood.
b
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.6224 : Diogenes, trewe heir and next allied To wilful pouert..al richesse he pleynli hath diffied.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Sion Arc.L.40.2/E.43)24/19 : [Rwl: The othir restin in the mydde waye, touching the merveillous misteries..of the resurreccion and thascension which touchithe] next [to our humanite].
c
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)7/15 : Mightiboned men þat be dulwitted..drawe..next to bestis apt to bere lordenes.
5.
(a) In the next position in importance or rank; ~ after, immediately after (sb.) in position; (b) ~ best, best ~, ~ the best, second to the best; next in order of value or quality.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)19b/b : Mannes spirit fongiþ þe schinynge of god next [L mediate] aftir angels.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)19510 : Phelip was of dekenes one Next aftir steuen was gone.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5609 : Appollo..In Delos is worschipte..And after, Venus..And nexte in ordre is Mercuryus..Of musik..Nexte þe mone.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.1256 : O Love..Thi moder ek, Citherea the swete, After thiself next heried be she, Venus mene I.
b
- (1423) Reg.Chichele in Cant.Yk.S.42 (Lamb 69)266 : I be whethe..my next best vestement to serve þe auter.
- (1444) Will Daubeney in Som.RS 19341 : Item, y wol she have iij next best brasyn pottes.
- (1451) Lin.DDoc.50/4 : I will his brodyr..haue a horsse of my stabull, best next saue his brodyr.
- (1470) Will York in Sur.Soc.45181 : I will that maistre Thomas have the lese chales with a vestment next best.
- a1486 Jousts of Peace (Mrg M 775)39 : And un-to the nexte þe best Juster a rube of xx li.
6.
Nearly, almost;~ waried, in imminent danger of being cursed.
Associated quotations
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Heb.6.8 : Þe eerþe..bryngande forth thornys and breris it is reprouyd and neest waryed [L et malediccio proxima].
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1450(1424) Ordin.Whittington112 : Also we have ordeyned…that ever fro this tyme withynne xx dayes nex…that ye same Almeshouse by deth or eny other maner shall be voide of thoffice of governaile of a Tutor.
Note: Additional quote(s)