Near in distance or time; close by or about to happen soon.
Old English 'nēah' meaning near or close, related to German 'nah.' The word has remained largely unchanged for over a thousand years and is now mostly used in poetic or archaic contexts.
You'll hear 'nigh' in old songs and poems like 'the end is nigh'—it's why English speakers use 'nigh' for dramatic effect even though we'd say 'near' in everyday speech, creating a mysterious, foreboding mood.
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