neah
Old English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Proto-West Germanic *nāhw, from Proto-Germanic *nēhw.
See also Old Saxon nāh, Old Dutch nā (Dutch na), Old High German nāh (German nah), Old Norse ná (Icelandic ná-), Gothic 𐌽𐌴𐍈 (nēƕ). Extra-Germanic cognates include Albanian nesër (“tomorrow, in short time”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /næ͜ɑːx/
Adjective
nēah (comparative nēar or nēr, superlative nīehst)
Declension
Declension of nēah — Strong
| Singular | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | nēah | nēa | nēah |
| Accusative | nēane, nēanne | nēa | nēah |
| Genitive | nēas | nēare, nēarre | nēas |
| Dative | nēam, nēaum | nēare, nēarre | nēam, nēaum |
| Instrumental | nēa | nēare, nēarre | nēa |
| Plural | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
| Nominative | nēa | nēa | nēa |
| Accusative | nēa | nēa | nēa |
| Genitive | nēara, nēarra | nēara, nēarra | nēara, nēarra |
| Dative | nēam, nēaum | nēam, nēaum | nēam, nēaum |
| Instrumental | nēam, nēaum | nēam, nēaum | nēam, nēaum |
Declension of nēah — Weak
| Singular | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | nēa | nēa | nēa |
| Accusative | nēan | nēan | nēa |
| Genitive | nēan | nēan | nēan |
| Dative | nēan | nēan | nēan |
| Instrumental | nēan | nēan | nēan |
| Plural | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
| Nominative | nēan | nēan | nēan |
| Accusative | nēan | nēan | nēan |
| Genitive | nēara, nēarra, nēana | nēara, nēarra, nēana | nēara, nēarra, nēana |
| Dative | nēam, nēaum | nēam, nēaum | nēam, nēaum |
| Instrumental | nēam, nēaum | nēam, nēaum | nēam, nēaum |
Preposition
nēah
Adverb
nēah
- close, near
- 10th century, The Wanderer:
- sōhte seledrēoriġ · sinces bryttan,
hwǣr iċ feor oþþe nēah · findan meahte
þone þe in meoduhealle · mīne wisse- sought hall-sad a giver of treasure,
where I far or near could find
who in a mead-hall would know my men
- sought hall-sad a giver of treasure,