English
near
Near comes from Middle English nere, from Old English nēar ‘nearer’ (comparative of nēah ‘nigh’), from Proto-Germanic *nēhwiz ‘nearer’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂neḱ- ‘to reach’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂neḱ-‘to reach’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂nḗḱwosreconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*nēhwaz‘nigh’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*nēhw‘near’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*nēhwiz‘nearer’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150nēar‘nearer’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500nere
- Englishearliest quotation 1611near
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂neḱ-‘to reach’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂nḗḱwosreconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*nēhwaz‘nigh’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*nēhw‘near’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*nēhwiz‘nearer’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150nēar‘nearer’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500nere
- Englishearliest quotation 1611near
Earliest quotation: 1611, The Holy Bible, London: […] Robert Barker: “she is thy fathers neere kinswoman.”
The story
From Middle English nere, ner, from Old English nēar (“nearer”, comparative of nēah (‘nigh’), the superlative would become next), influenced by Old Norse nær (‘near’), both originating from Proto-Germanic *nēhwiz (‘nearer’), comparative of the adverb *nēhw (‘near’), from the adjective *nēhwaz, ultimately from Pre-Proto-Germanic *h₂nḗḱwos, a lengthened-grade adjective derived from Proto-Indo-European *h₂neḱ- (‘to reach’).
Linked words
through Proto-Germanic *nēhwaz ‘nigh, near, close’
through Old English nēah ‘nearer’
through Middle English nere
Today it means
adj Physically close.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂neḱ- / near