Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective archaic superlative form of nigh: most nigh.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adverb (superlative of `near' or `close') within the shortest distance

Etymologies

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Examples

  • They may be close-fisted, hard-headed, and sharp-tongued with each other when well and prosperous; but let poverty, wreck, illness, or death overtake one of their number, and the "nighest" of them at a bargain will open heart and purse with an astonishing generosity.

    Sara, a Princess Fannie E. Newberry

  • But it allus come out the nighest side-channel, an 'not bubblin' up an 'up.'

    The Men of Forty Mile 2010

  • But it allus come out the nighest side-channel, an 'not bubblin' up an 'up.'

    The Men of Forty-Mile 2010

  • So they ran thither and would lay hands on them, but they stood on their defence well and manly, and long he remembered it who was the nighest to them; but in the end they were borne down by many men and taken, and bonds were set upon them, and they were cast into fetters wherein they sit night long.

    The Story of the Volsungs 2008

  • Howsoever, he took her hand, and led her to a little mound on the other side of the ring, and bade her sit down there, and so did she, and from under the nighest of the stones he drew forth a pair of saddle-bags, and took victual and wine thence, and they ate and drank together like old companions.

    The Water of the Wondrous Isles 2007

  • But at last she clad herself in haste, and went stealthily from the chamber, as if she feared to meet anyone; and she stole up to the tower-top that was nighest, and looked through the door on to the leads, and saw no one there; so she went out, and stood by the battlement, and gazed long over the water, but saw neither boat nor burning mountain coming towards her.

    The Water of the Wondrous Isles 2007

  • Then she bathed her in the nighest pool of the brook, and went back into the house and made her breakfast on the bread and milk, and it was then about mid-morning.

    The Water of the Wondrous Isles 2007

  • And he led her into the cot, and set her down to eat and to drink, and through the open door she could see the children swarming, and they that were nighest thrusting each other this way and that to catch a sight of her.

    The Water of the Wondrous Isles 2007

  • Mr. Blount (as he was then) was nighest me, and he whispered, “Women and wine.”

    Two on a Tower 2006

  • Wild as that, the nighest woodland of a deserted home in

    Eothen 2003

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