NIGHT. That space of time during which the sun is below the horizon of the earth, except, that short space which precedes its rising and follows its setting, during which, by its light, the countenance of a man may be discerned. I Hale, P. C. 550; 3 Inst. 63; 4 Bl. Com. 224; 1 Hawk. P. C. 101; 3 Chit. Cr. Law, 1093; 2 Leach, 710; Bac. Ab. Burglary, D; 2 East, P. C. 509; 2 Russ. Cr. 32; Rosc. Cr. Ev. 278; 7 Dane's Ab. 134.

Source: Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
 

Nigh \Nigh\, adv. [AS. ne['a]h, n[=e]h. See Nigh, a.]

1. In a situation near in place or time, or in the course of events; near. [1913 Webster]

He was sick, nigh unto death. --Phil. ii. 27. [1913 Webster]

He drew not nigh unheard; the angel bright, Ere he drew nigh, his radiant visage turned. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

2. Almost; nearly; as, he was nigh dead. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

Nigh \Nigh\, prep. Near to; not remote or distant from. "was not this nigh shore?" --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

Nigh \Nigh\, v. t. & i. To draw nigh (to); to approach; to come near. [Obs.]

--Wyclif (Matt. iii. 2). [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

Nigh \Nigh\ (n[imac]), a. [Compar. Nigher (n[imac]"[~e]r); superl. Nighest, or Next (n[e^]kst).]

[OE. nigh, neigh, neih, AS. ne['a]h, n[=e]h; akin to D. na, adv., OS. n[=a]h, a., OHG. n[=a]h, G. nah, a., nach to, after, Icel. n[=a] (in comp.) nigh, Goth. n[=e]hw, n[=e]hwa, adv., nigh. Cf. Near, Neighbor, Next.]

1. Not distant or remote in place or time; near. [1913 Webster]

The loud tumult shows the battle nigh. --Prior. [1913 Webster]

2. Not remote in degree, kindred, circumstances, etc.; closely allied; intimate. "Nigh kinsmen." --Knolles. [1913 Webster]

Ye . . . are made nigh by the blood of Christ. --Eph. ii. 13. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Near; close; adjacent; contiguous; present; neighboring. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

96 Moby Thesaurus words for "nigh": about, all but, almost, along toward, approach, approaching, approximate, approximating, arm-in-arm, around, as good as, aside, at close quarters, at hand, at next hand, beside, bordering on, burning, by, cheek-by-jowl, circa, close, close about, close at hand, close by, close to, close upon, closely, come near, converge, counterclockwise, draw near, draw nigh, fast by, hand-in-hand, hard, hard by, hard on, hereabout, hereabouts, hot, immediate, in spitting distance, intimate, just about, larboard, left, left-hand, left-wing, left-wingish, levorotatory, liberal, near, near at hand, near the mark, near to, near upon, nearabout, nearabouts, nearby, nearing, nearish, nearly, next door to, nigh about, nighhand, nighish, not far, not far from, not quite, only a step, port, pretty near, propinque, proximal, proximate, radical, round, side-by-side, sinister, sinistral, sinistrocerebral, sinistrocular, sinistrogyrate, sinistrorse, thereabout, thereabouts, verging on, verging upon, vicinal, warm, well-nigh, within call, within earshot, within hearing, within reach

Source: Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
 

nigh adj
1: being on the left side; "the near or nigh horse is the one on the left"; "the animal's left side is its near or nigh side" [syn: near(a), nigh(a)]
2: near in space or time ad

verb

1: near in time or place or relationship; "as the wedding day drew near"; "stood near the door"; "don't shoot until they come near"; "getting near to the true explanation"; "her mother is always near"; "The end draws nigh"; "the bullet didn't come close"; "don't get too close to the fire" [syn: near, close]
2: (of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; `near' is sometimes used informally for `nearly' and `most' is sometimes used informally for `almost'; "the job is (just) about done"; "the baby was almost asleep when the alarm sounded"; "we're almost finished"; "the car all but ran her down"; "he nearly fainted"; "talked for nigh onto 2 hours"; "the recording is well-nigh perfect"; "virtually all the parties signed the contract"; "I was near exhausted by the run"; "most everyone agrees" [syn: about, just about, almost, most, all but, nearly, near, virtually, well-nigh]

Source: WordNet (r) 2.0
 

Nigh \Nigh\, prep. Near to; not remote or distant from. ``was not this nigh shore?'' --Shak.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Nigh \Nigh\, a. [Compar. Nigher; superl. Nighest, or Next.]

[OE. nigh, neigh, neih, AS. ne['a]h, n?h; akin to D. na, adv., OS. n[=a]h, a., OHG. n[=a]h, G. nah, a., nach to, after, Icel. n[=a] (in comp.) nigh, Goth. n?hw, n?hwa, adv., nigh. Cf. Near, Neighbor, Next.]

1. Not distant or remote in place or time; near.

The loud tumult shows the battle nigh. --Prior.

2. Not remote in degree, kindred, circumstances, etc.; closely allied; intimate. ``Nigh kinsmen.'' --Knolles.

Ye . . . are made nigh by the blood of Christ. --Eph. ii. 13.

Syn: Near; close; adjacent; contiguous; present; neighboring.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Nigh \Nigh\, adv. [AS. ne['a]h, n?h. See Nigh, a.]

1. In a situation near in place or time, or in the course of events; near.

He was sick, nigh unto death. --Phil. ii. 27.

He drew not nigh unheard; the angel bright, Ere he drew nigh, his radiant visage turned. --Milton.

2. Almost; nearly; as, he was nigh dead.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Nigh \Nigh\, v. t. & i. To draw nigh (to); to approach; to come near. [Obs.]

--Wyclif (Matt. iii. 2).

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)