well-nigh, adv.
(ˈwɛlˈnaɪ)
Also as one word or two.
[OE. wel néah, néh, f. well adv. 18 + nigh adv.]
Very nearly, almost wholly or entirely.
| a 1122 O.E. Chron. an. 999 (MS. F.) Welneah eall West Cent. a 1135 ― an. 1132 (Laud MS.) Sua ðæt te king was wel-neh bepaht. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 33 Hie forwundeden him welneih to deaðe. a 1250 Owl & Night. 44 Hire horte was so gret, Þat welneȝ hire fnast atschet. c 1275 Passion our Lord 477 in O.E. Misc. 50 Hit wes welneyh mydday þo þusternesse com. 1387 Trevisa Higden III. 281 Wel nyh alle his lyf tyme. a 1400–50 Wars Alex. 539 Of werke well ne I wede. 1449 Pecock Repr. i. i. 7 Weelnyȝ thoruȝ al the chapiter. 1581 Rich Farew. Milit. Prof. P j, There was alreadie a whole yeare and a halfe welnie paste. 1599 Shakes. Much Ado v. iv. 81 (Qo.) They swore that you were welnigh dead for me. 1604 T. Wright Passions i. vi. 22 The experience is common (welnie) in all beasts. 1612 Two Noble K. iii. ii, Tis now welnigh morning. a 1657 W. Burton Itin. Anton. (1658) 34, I had wel-nigh forgotten the distance. 1780 S. J. Pratt Emma Corbett (ed. 4) I. 6 The blow which killed a son had well nigh killed a father also. 1848 Whittier Pæan 2 The dreary night has wellnigh passed. 1864 G. W. Dasent Jest & Earnest (1873) II. 263 Though before they were well-nigh beggars. 1896 Law Times C. 489/2 Suspicion pointed strongly, well-nigh overwhelmingly against the prisoner. 1920 Eng. Hist. Rev. Jan. 144 The amiable and wellnigh faultless hero. |