nearling

English

Etymology 1

From near +‎ -ling.

Alternative forms

Adverb

nearling (comparative more nearling, superlative most nearling)

  1. (dialectal) Nearly; almost; all but.
    • 1865, George Smith, William Makepeace Thackeray, The Cornhill Magazine, volume 11; 15, page 357:
      To be among the mists, the tracks of rain,
      Nearling the hueless silence of the snow.
    • 2023, Lynn Leonard, PIX: The Flight of the Phoenixes:
      Kenda could no longer contain himself. He stepped forward, nearling.

Etymology 2

From near +‎ -ling.

Noun

nearling (plural nearlings)

  1. (rare) One who is near.
    • 1909, The Collected Poems of William Carlos Williams: 1909-1939:
      Precious children, little gambollers! "farlings"
      They might have called you once, "nearlings" […]
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