• IPA: /naɪ/

nigh (comparative nigher, superlative nighest)

1. (archaic, poetic) near, close by

   The end is nigh!

   • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Qveene. […], London: Printed [by John Wolfe] for VVilliam Ponsonbie, OCLC 960102938 ↗, book II, canto IX, stanza 14, page 311 ↗:

     For with ſuch puiſſance and impetuous maine / Thoſe Champions broke on them, that forſt the fly, / Like ſcattered Sheepe, whenas the Shepherds ſwaine / A Lyon and a Tigre doth eſpye, / With greedy pace forth ruſhing from the foreſt nye.

   • ante 1831 Ludovico Ariosto, William Stewart Rose (translator), Orlando Furioso, 2006, Echo Library, [http://books.google.com/books?id=S6apMyvDPcwC&pg=PA185&dq=%22more|most+nigh%22&hl=en&ei=NPZyTo6_MMjcmAWyxozzDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDsQ6AEwAzgK#v=onepage&q=%22more|most%20nigh%22&f=false page 185],

     He at his head took aim who stood most nigh;

   • 1831, John Knox, The History of the Reformation of Religion in Scotland, [http://books.google.com/books?id=z_8QAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA421&dq=%22more|most+nigh%22&hl=en&ei=wfxyTpk6h_OYBfiFkc8M&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDgQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=%22more|most%20nigh%22&f=false page 421],

     By these and many histories more, it is most evident, that the more nigh salvation and deliverance approach, the more vehement is temptation and trouble.

   • 1834, Davy Crockett, A Narrative of the Life of David Crockett, [http://books.google.com/books?id=NjYDAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA197&dq=%22nigher|nighest%22&hl=en&ei=7PhyToaeFc_0mAXnpszZDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CEoQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=%22nigher|nighest%22&f=false page 197],

     The enemy, somewhat imboldened, draws nigher to the fort.

   • 1889, House of Commons of Canada, Debates: Official Report, Volume 2, [http://books.google.com/books?id=hYhYAAAAYAAJ&q=%22nigher|nighest%22&dq=%22nigher|nighest%22&hl=en&ei=YftyTuqlLJHjmAWF1LzcDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAzgo page 1408],

     You then went to St. Andrews, the nighest ocean port.

2. Not remote in degree, kindred, circumstances, etc.; closely allied; intimate.

   • nigh kinsmen

   • Bible, Eph. ii. 13

     Ye […] are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

• (near) close, near; see also Thesaurus:near

• French: proche, près
• German: nahe, nah bei
• Portuguese: perto, próximo
• Russian: бли́жний
• Spanish: cerca, cabe

nigh (nighs, present participle nighing; past and past participle nighed)

1. (ambitransitive) to draw nigh (to); to approach; to come near

   • When the charnel-eyed Pale Horse has nighed

• French: approcher
• Russian: близиться

nigh (not comparable)

1. Almost, nearly.

• German: beinahe, nahezu
• Russian: почти́
• Spanish: cercano

1. near; close to
   • 1661-5, Thomas Salusbury (translator), Galileo Galilei, Dialogue concerning the Two Chief World Systems, 1632

     When the Moon is horned […] is it not ever nigh the Sun?

• Russian: бли́зко

1. Surname