neah

Old English

Alternative forms

• nēa, nēh, nīh

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *nāhw, from Proto-Germanic *nēhw.

See also Old Saxon nāh, Old Dutch nā (Dutch na), Old High German nāh (German nah), Old Norse ná (Icelandic ná-), Gothic 𐌽𐌴𐍈 (nēƕ). Extra-Germanic cognates include Albanian nesër (“tomorrow, in short time”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /næ͜ɑːx/

Adjective

nēah (comparative nēar, superlative nīehst)

1. close, near

Declension

Declension of nēah — Strong

Singular	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	nēah	nēa	nēah
Accusative	nēane, nēanne	nēa	nēah
Genitive	nēas	nēare, nēarre	nēas
Dative	nēam, nēaum	nēare, nēarre	nēam, nēaum
Instrumental	nēa	nēare, nēarre	nēa
Plural	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	nēa	nēa	nēa
Accusative	nēa	nēa	nēa
Genitive	nēara, nēarra	nēara, nēarra	nēara, nēarra
Dative	nēam, nēaum	nēam, nēaum	nēam, nēaum
Instrumental	nēam, nēaum	nēam, nēaum	nēam, nēaum

Declension of nēah — Weak

Singular	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	nēa	nēa	nēa
Accusative	nēan	nēan	nēa
Genitive	nēan	nēan	nēan
Dative	nēan	nēan	nēan
Instrumental	nēan	nēan	nēan
Plural	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	nēan	nēan	nēan
Accusative	nēan	nēan	nēan
Genitive	nēara, nēarra, nēana	nēara, nēarra, nēana	nēara, nēarra, nēana
Dative	nēam, nēaum	nēam, nēaum	nēam, nēaum
Instrumental	nēam, nēaum	nēam, nēaum	nēam, nēaum

Preposition

nēah

1. close, near

Adverb

nēah

1. close, near
   • 10th century, The Wanderer:

     sōhte seledrēoriġ · sinces bryttan,
     hwǣr iċ feor oþþe nēah · findan meahte
     þone þe in meoduhealle · mīne wisse

     sought hall-sad a giver of treasure,
     where I far or near could find
     who in a mead-hall would know my men

Derived terms

• nēahġebūr
• nēawist
• *nīehþu
• nēan

Descendants

• Middle English: neygh, nygh, nye, nyȝ, nighe
  • English: nigh
  • Scots: ne, ney
  • Yola: neeghe, nich