nigh by, adv. (and a.)
[f. nigh adv. + by: cf. MDu. nabi (Du. nabij) and see near by.]
† 1. adv. Nearly, almost. Obs. rare.
| c 1400 Love Bonavent. Mirr. xxxiv. (B.N.C. MS.) lf. 83 Not only lered and lewed seculeres, but also religiouse nyh by in alle astates. 1448 J. Shillingford Lett. (Camden) 141 Whiche brigge is of the lengthe, or negh by, and of the same mason werk as London brigge. |
2. Near to; near by, near at hand. Also as adj.
| c 1500 Melusine 244 They came & lodged them in the medow nygh by Lucembourgh. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 3 There is a place here nye by, there y{supu} shalt stande. 1823 J. F. Cooper Pioneers xi, Benjamin..posted himself nigh by. 1826 ― Mohicans (1829) II. iii. 37 They found the scout awaiting their appearance nigh by. 1889 A. T. Pask Eyes Thames 141 The waters of the nigh-by fountain would sound like gruesome whispers. |