nearby English · revision 4552

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=late 14th century}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English nerby, nere by,^(MWU 2024) a compound of the adverbs [[near]] and [[by]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002)

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+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Close at hand, not far off: the late 14th century in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) the 15th century in Merriam-Webster,^(MWU 2024) late Middle English in SOED.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As a preposition it is from the mid-15th century, now dialectal.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) In Scotland it also meant “nearly, almost”.^(SOED 2002) The adjective, close at hand, neighbouring, is by 1858, the mid-19th century in SOED.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) It is often written as two words when used adverbially,^(SOED 2002) and the stress shifts to the first syllable before a noun, as in ''a nearby town''.^(Roach et al. 2011) Middle English also had nerhonde “near at hand”.^(Etymonline)

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+ ==Timeline==

+ * late 14th century – adverb.^(Etymonline)

+ * mid-15th century – preposition.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1858 – adjective.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Located a short [[distance]] away; close at hand.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

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+ ===Adverb===

+ # Not far away; [[close]] by: ''they live nearby''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

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+ ==Related words==

+ * [[near]]

+ * [[by]]

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}