Nearest

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. [1913 Webster]

He served great Hector, and was ever near, Not with his trumpet only, but his spear. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

2. Closely connected or related. [1913 Webster]

She is thy father's near kinswoman. --Lev. xviii. 12. [1913 Webster]

3. Close to one's interests, affection, etc.; touching, or affecting intimately; intimate; dear; as, a near friend. [1913 Webster]

4. Close to anything followed or imitated; not free, loose, or rambling; as, a version near to the original. [1913 Webster]

5. So as barely to avoid or pass injury or loss; close; narrow[3]; as, a near escape; a near miss. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

7. Immediate; direct; close; short. ``The nearest way.'' --Milton. [1913 Webster]

8. Close-fisted; parsimonious. [Obs. or Low, Eng.] [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Nigh; close; adjacent; proximate; contiguous; present; ready; intimate; familiar; dear. [1913 Webster]