nigh – English adjective declension

English adjective forms of nigh

Adjective: nigh

Comparison Forms

Synthetic

Comparativenigher
Superlativenighest

Perifrastic

Comparativemore nigh
Superlativemost nigh

Sample Sentences

  • The end is nigh!
  • Daybreak is drawing nigh.
  • For with ſuch puiſſance and impetuous maine / Thoſe Champions broke on them, that forſt the fly, / Like ſcattered Sheepe, whenas the Shepherds ſwaine / A Lyon and a Tigre doth eſpye, / With greedy pace forth ruſhing from the foreſt nye. [1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto IX”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 14, page 311:]
  • a. 1831, Ludovico Ariosto, William Stewart Rose (translator), Orlando Furioso, 2006, Echo Library, page 185,
  • He at his head took aim who stood most nigh;
  • By these and many histories more, it is most evident, that the more nigh salvation and deliverance approach, the more vehement is temptation and trouble. [1831, John Knox, The History of the Reformation of Religion in Scotland, page 421:]
  • The enemy, somewhat imboldened, draws nigher to the fort. [1834, Davy Crockett, A Narrative of the Life of David Crockett, page 197:]
  • You then went to St. Andrews, the nighest ocean port. [1889, House of Commons of Canada, Debates: Official Report, volume 2, page 1408:]
  • The end is nigh (or at least it was supposed to be), but the Pacers in northern England kept plugging away providing a service while awaiting the much-delayed arrival of their replacements. [2020 May 20, John Crosse, “Soon to be gone... but never forgotten”, in Rail, page 63, photo caption:]
  • Who sends the waves that bring us nigh / Unto the shore, the rock of Christ? [2020, Keith Getty, Matt Boswell, Jordan Kauflin, Matt Merker, Matt Papa, “Christ Our Hope in Life and Death”Getty Music Publishing (BMI) / Messenger Hymns (BMI) / Matthew Merker Music (BMI) / Jordan Kauflin Music (BMI) / Getty Music Hymns and Songs (ASCAP) / Love Your Enemies Publishing (ASCAP):]
  • Ye […] are made nigh by the blood of Christ. [1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Ephesians 2:13:]

Adjectives inflected like nigh

wholsom, seldom, scared, solemn, silent, beloved, uptight, perfect, useless, up-tight, selfish, distinct, discreet, Dutch, reckless, bumfuck, worthless, slender, faithfull, shallow, etc. (List truncated at 20 adjectives)

Etymology

1. Etymology tree
2. Proto-Indo-European *h₂neḱ-
3. Proto-Germanic *nēhwazder.
4. Proto-Germanic *nēhw
5. Proto-West Germanic *nāhw
6. Old English nēah
7. Middle English neygh
8. English nigh
9. Inherited from Middle English neygh, from Old English nēah, from Proto-West Germanic *nāhw, from Proto-Germanic *nēhw, from *nēhwaz, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂neḱ- (“to reach”).

Verbs referencing "nigh"

German Adjectives nah, German Adjectives nahe.