English

edit

Etymology

edit

From Middle English neyr at hand, nere atte hande, equivalent to near +‎ at +‎ hand.

Phrase

edit

near at hand

  1. Close or nearby, in terms of distance.
    • 1939 September, D. S. Barrie, “The Railways of South Wales”, in Railway Magazine, page 165:
      Standing on the mountain above Caerphilly, one may reflect upon the gap where once stood Llanbradach Viaduct, and look near at hand upon the restored ruins of Caerphilly Castle; man labours to rebuild the mediaeval whilst he ruthlessly scraps the modern.
  2. Close, in terms of time.

References

edit