Definition of "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, stanza 14, page 311

He at his head took aim who stood most nigh;

a. 1831, Ludovico Ariosto, William Stewart Rose (translator), Orlando Furioso, 2006, Echo Library, page 185

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 (lyrics and music), “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, […], Ephesians 2:13

When the charnel-eyed Pale Horse has nighed

1924, Thomas Hardy, He Resolves to Say No More

So, after a spell, he decided to make the best of it and shoved us into the front parlor. […] It looked like a tomb and smelt pretty nigh as musty and dead-and-gone.

1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 12, in Mr. Pratt's Patients

Hell of a surprise in the seventh season premiere of Game Of Thrones. Arya Stark, fresh off a nigh Cersei-level ambush of the Frey household, comes upon a small campfire surrounded by fresh-faced red cloaks.

2017 July 16, Brandon Nowalk, “Chickens and dragons come home to roost on Game Of Thrones (newbies)”, in The Onion AV Club‎

When the Moon is horned […] is it not ever nigh the Sun?

1661-5, Thomas Salusbury (translator), Galileo Galilei, Dialogue concerning the Two Chief World Systems, 1632

The cottage stood nigh the burn, in a little garden, with lilyoaks and grosart bushes lining the pathway.

1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide