nearly, adv.
(ˈnɪəlɪ)
Also 6–7 ner(e)ly, neer(e)ly, 6 -li(e.
[f. near a. + -ly2.]
1. With close inspection or scrutiny; carefully, narrowly. Now rare.
| 1540 Morysine Vives' Introd. Wysd. B vj, If a man woll more nerelyer behold this thinge. 1604 E. G[rimstone] D'Acosta's Hist. Indies ii. xi. 106 Whoso woulde neerely consider the causes and generall reasons before mentioned. 1669 in Sturmy Mariner's Mag. a 4 b, If you neerly mark him, and his End. 1751 Johnson Rambler No. 155 ¶4 If its operation be nearly examined. 1797 Burke Regic. Peace iii. (1892) 209 Inspect the thing more nearly. 1825 Scott Talism. xvi, His liveries, his cognizance, his feats of arms..were nearly watched. |
† b. With close attention or great care.
Obs.| 1554–9 Songs & Ball. Phil. & Mary (Roxb.) 4 He shall..the fyne flowr from the bran nerly syfft. a 1693 Urquhart's Rabelais iii. xl. 332 Narrowly, precisely, and nearly garbelled. |
c. Parsimoniously; frugally.
rare.
| 1592 Greene Conny Catch. 9 Hauing some xx. markes in his purse, long in gathering, and neerelie kept. 1673 Ray Journ. Low C. 396 They had rather live nearly than take much pains. |
2. With close kinship, relationship, or connexion; in close intimacy.
| 1561 T. Norton Calvin's Inst. i. 11 Vs, whom it pleased him more nereli and more familiarly to draw together to himself. 1646 Mayne Serm. Unity 27 The most united, happyest, neerliest allyed people in the world. 1689 Popple tr. Locke's 1st Let. Toleration L.'s Wks. 1727 I. 240 Which things are nearlier related to the Government of the Magistrate than the other. 1753 Johnson Adventurer No. 84 ¶2 To be nearly acquainted with the people of different countries can happen to very few. 1845 Trench Huls. Lect. Ser. i. i. 1 Discourses which should more or less nearly have to do with the..vindicating that Truth. 1874 Carpenter Ment. Phys. i. iv. (1879) 167 A lady nearly connected with the writer. |
3. In a special degree or manner; particularly.
| 1562 J. Heywood Prov. & Epigr. (1867) 177 Spide in a freende it toucheth him neerely. 1605 Shakes. Lear i. i. 287 It is not little I haue to say, Of what most neerely appertaines to vs both. 1642 Chas. I Answ. 19 Propos. 24 Those Treaties in which We are neerlyest concerned. 1729 Swift Let. to Pope 31 Oct., This..I only mention, because it so nearly touches myself. 1788 Priestley Lect. Hist., Ess. Educ. p. xxxi, Every man is nearly interested in the conduct of his superiors. 1833 H. Martineau Brooke Farm i. 5 A piece of news which nearly concerned the interests of our village. |
4. At, within, or from, a short distance; closely in respect of place or position.
| 1577 B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. iv. (1586) 174 b, And neighbour like their houses nearely stand. 1605 Shakes. Macb. iv. ii. 67, I doubt some danger do's approach you neerely. 1630 R. Johnson's Kingd. & Commw. 39 The Sea,..a Soveraigne..bulwarke to that Nation that is neerliest situated unto it. 1773–83 Hoole Orl. Fur. vi. 417 When now more nearly to the walls he drew,..He left the plain and beaten path. 1827 Southey Penins. War II. 769 Three days elapsed before the invaders again approached the works of the allies so nearly. 1853 Felton Fam. Lett. x. (1865) 95, I was well pleased with such an opportunity of seeing him more nearly. |
| fig. 1620 T. Granger Div. Logike 49 The former doth more neerely, or immediately cause the effect. a 1731 Atterbury (J.), They are diligent to observe whatever may nearly or remotely blemish it. |
† b. Closely (upon one): straitly.
Obs.| 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 98 They pursuyng the French men, in their flight did so nerely folow them into their holde [etc.]. 1587 R. Hovenden in Collect. (O.H.S.) I. 221 Expences..which pinch us very neerlye. 1627 May Lucan ix. (1631) 129 Neerely hugging woe She feedes on teares. |
5. Closely in respect of agreement or similarity.
| 1594 O. B. Quest. Profit. Concern. 7 That which shall neereliest agree with that I said before. 1638 Junius Paint. Ancients 343 Making a new difference between two neerely resembling brothers. 1656 Sanderson Serm. (1689) 377 He is best pleased with those that nearliest resemble him. 1863 Lyell Antiq. Man 10 The age of iron corresponded more nearly with that of the beech tree. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 183 The Euthydemus is..that in which he approaches most nearly to the comic poet. |
6. With close approximation or near approach (to some state or condition, etc.).
| 1606 Shakes. Ant. & Cl. ii. ii. 91 As neerely as I may, Ile play the penitent to you. a 1615 Donne Ess. (1651) 95 God, which cannot be known by his own Name, may nearlyest by the names and prosperity of his. 1827 Keble Chr. Y., Morning xvi, To live more nearly as we pray. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. xvi. III. 718 As nearly prime minister as any English subject could be under a prince of William's character. |
b. Within a (very) little; almost, all but.
| 1683 Salmon Doron Med. i. 92 Made neerly stiff enough. Ibid. 107 Till the Water is neerly consumed. 1750 Johnson Rambler No. 4 ¶2 This kind of writing..is to be conducted nearly by the rules of comic poetry. 1766 Goldsm. Vic. W. xviii, I languished here for nearly three weeks. 1800 Foster in Life & Corr. (1846) I. 125 Years nearly lost to my own happiness. 1823 F. Clissold Ascent Mt. Blanc 21 It was nearly six o'clock. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 54, I..was very nearly making a blunder. |
c. not..nearly, nothing like.
| 1811 Coleridge in Southey Life Andrew Bell (1844) II. 646, I have not received nearly one-half of the subscriptions. |
| 1884 M. Mackenzie Dis. Throat & Nose II. 261, I do not employ irrigation nearly so frequently as formerly. |