| / English Dictionary |
NIGH
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Not far distant in time or space or degree or circumstances
Example:
had a close call
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Similar:
adjacent (near or close to but not necessarily touching)
nearby (close at hand)
warm (of a seeker; near to the object sought)
hot (of a seeker; very near to the object sought)
Attribute:
distance (the property created by the space between two objects or points)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Being on the left side
Example:
the animal's left side is its near or nigh side
Synonyms:
near; nigh
Classified under:
Similar:
left (being or located on or directed toward the side of the body to the west when facing north)
II. (adverb)
Sense 1
Meaning:
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
Example:
most everyone agrees
Synonyms:
about; almost; most; near; nearly; nigh; virtually; well-nigh
Classified under:
Sense 2
Meaning:
Near in time or place or relationship
Example:
don't get too close to the fire
Synonyms:
close; near; nigh
Classified under:
Context examples:
They was ashore nigh on a week, and us standing off and on in the old WALRUS.
(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)
'Apparently the age of romance was not dead, and there was common ground upon which the wildest imaginings of the novelist could meet the actual scientific investigations of the searcher for truth. He would only add, before he sat down, that he rejoiced—and all of them would rejoice—that these gentlemen had returned safe and sound from their difficult and dangerous task, for it cannot be denied that any disaster to such an expedition would have inflicted a well-nigh irreparable loss to the cause of Zoological science.'
(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
It was necessary, in short, for a time, to take away everything nigh her, that she could do herself, or anybody else, an injury with, and to shut her up close.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
You and those like you have been preaching peace for nigh two thousand years, and cutting throats the whole time.
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Pardieu! yes, I had well-nigh forgot.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
This served to form a large roll in Cherokee's mouth, the fur of which well-nigh defied his teeth.
(White Fang, by Jack London)
Nothing could destroy its exquisite oval, its well-nigh classic lines, its delicately stencilled brows, its large brown eyes, clear-seeing and calm, gloriously calm.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
He blew nigh the top of his head off with an old musket that they had for scarin' the crows with.
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
The wife of a rich man fell sick; and when she felt that her end drew nigh, she called her only daughter to her bed-side, and said, Always be a good girl, and I will look down from heaven and watch over you.
(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)
The dusk had come nigh hand completely, and as I opened out the cleft between the two peaks, I became aware of a wavering glow against the sky, where, as I judged, the man of the island was cooking his supper before a roaring fire.
(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)
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