Near \Near\ (n[=e]r), adv. [AS. ne['a]r, compar. of ne['a]h nigh. See Nigh.]

1. At a little distance, in place, time, manner, or degree; not remote; nigh.

My wife! my traitress! let her not come near me. --Milton.

2. Nearly; almost; well-nigh. ``Near twenty years ago.'' --Shak. ``Near a fortnight ago.'' --Addison.

Near about the yearly value of the land. --Locke.

3. Closely; intimately. --Shak.

Far and near, at a distance and close by; throughout a whole region.

To come near to, to want but little of; to approximate to. ``Such a sum he found would go near to ruin him.'' --Addison.

Near the wind (Naut.), close to the wind; closehauled.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Near \Near\, prep. Adjacent to; close by; not far from; nigh; as, the ship sailed near the land. See the Note under near, a.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Near \Near\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Neared; p. pr. & vb. n Nearing.]

[See Near, adv.]

To approach; to come nearer; as, the ship neared the land.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Near \Near\, a. [Compar. Nearer; superl. Nearest.]

[See Near, adv.]

1. Not far distant in time, place, or degree; not remote; close at hand; adjacent; neighboring; nigh. ``As one near death.'' --Shak.

He served great Hector, and was ever near, Not with his trumpet only, but his spear. --Dryden.

2. Closely connected or related.

She is thy father's near kinswoman. --Lev. xviii. 12.

3. Close to one's interests, affection, etc.; touching, or affecting intimately; intimate; dear; as, a near friend.

4. Close to anything followed or imitated; not free, loose, or rambling; as, a version near to the original.

5. So as barely to avoid or pass injury or loss; close; narrow; as, a near escape.

6. Next to the driver, when he is on foot; in the Unted States, on the left of an animal or a team; as, the near ox; the near leg. See Off side, under Off, a.

7. Immediate; direct; close; short. ``The nearest way.'' --Milton.

8. Close-fisted; parsimonious. [Obs. or Low, Eng.]

Note: Near may properly be followed by to before the thing approached'; but more frequently to is omitted, and the adjective or the adverb is regarded as a preposition. The same is also true of the word nigh.

Syn: Nigh; close; adjacent; proximate; contiguous; present; ready; intimate; dear.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Near \Near\, v. i. To draw near; to approach.

A speck, a mist, a shape, I wist! And still it neared, and neared. --Coleridge.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)