near English · revision 3652

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited, borrowing|attested=c. 725, Beowulf (Old English nēar)}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /nɪə/, US /nɪr/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|ner]], which continues [[inh|ang|nēar|t=closer, nearer]], the comparative of [[m|ang|nēah|t=near]], modern [[nigh]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) and was partly [[bor|non|nær|t=nearer, near]], the comparative of [[m|non|ná-|t=near]].^(MWU 2024)^(Hoad 1986)^(COED 2004) Hoad and the Concise Oxford take the Norse word as the main source, since the form first appears in northern and eastern texts,^(Hoad 1986)^(COED 2004) while Barnhart and Etymonline see Norse influence only in the use of ''near'' as a positive.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Its relatives include [[ofs|niār]], [[goh|nāhōr]] and [[de|näher]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Closer, nearer: Old English ''nēar'', about 725, in ''Beowulf''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Near'' was at first the comparative of ''nigh'', but in Middle English it came to be used as a positive, from the mid-13th century,^(Etymonline) perhaps influenced by Norse phrases such as ''ganga nǣr'', “go nearer”, which could also be understood as “go near”.^(Barnhart 1988) A new comparative, ''nearer'', was formed in the 16th century.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) The adverb meant “almost” from the 12th century, as it still does in dialect,^(Hoad 1986) but in most uses it has been replaced by ''nearly'', while the adjective ''near'' has in turn replaced ''nigh''.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) The preposition is from the mid-13th century and the adjective from about 1300.^(Etymonline) “Closely related” is from the late 14th century, and “stingy” from the 1610s.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) The verb, “to approach”, is from 1513.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MW Collegiate) ''Near and dear'' is from the 1620s, a ''near thing'' from 1751, the ''Near East'' from 1894 and ''near beer'' from 1908.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – Old English ''nēar'', nearer (''Beowulf'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 12th century – almost.^(Hoad 1986)

+ * mid-13th century – used as a positive; preposition.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1300 – adjective.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1513 – verb, to approach.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 16th century – ''nearer''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1610s – stingy.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1751 – ''a near thing''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1894 – ''Near East''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # At or to a short distance in space or time.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Almost, [[nearly]]: ''near impossible''.^(AHD)^(Hoad 1986)

+ # Closely: ''near related''.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Close in space, time or degree.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Closely related by kinship or friendship; [[intimate]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Narrowly missed: ''a near miss''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Closely resembling: ''a near likeness''.^(AHD)

+ # ''(dated)'' Mean, [[stingy]].^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ===Preposition===

+ # Close to.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To come near; to [[approach]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[nearness]]

+ * [[nearly]]

+ * [[nearby]]

+ * [[nearshore]]

+ * [[overnear]]

+ * [[Near East]]

+ * [[near gale]]

+ * [[Near Islands]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[next]]

+ * [[nigh]]

+ * [[neighbour]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}