Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.
“Where did your, er, journey begin?” “Hard by the farm at Hexwood.”1970, Richard Carpenter, Catweazle, Harmondsworth: Puffin Books, page 107:
He was laid to rest hard by the same church where he was once baptised.
In a bar hard by P. P. Layouts, Richard Hnatt sat sipping a Tequila Sour.1964, Philip K. Dick, The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch:
So the Comptroller and I thence to a tavern hard by, and there did agree upon drawing up some letters to be sent to all the pursers and Clerks of the Cheques to make up their accounts.1660 February 23 (date written; Gregorian calendar), Samuel Pepys, Mynors Bright, transcriber, “February 14th, 1659–1660”, in Henry B[enjamin] Wheatley, editor, The Diary of Samuel Pepys […], volume I, London: George Bell & Sons […]; Cambridge: Deighton Bell & Co., published 1893, →OCLC, page 339:
After we had dispatched our compliments to each other, and I had awkwardly returned in country scrapes his a la mode bows and cringes, he needs must prevail with me to join him at a tavern hard by and dine with some gentlemen of his acquaintance.1698, Ned Ward, The London Spy:
He attendeth here hard by, To know your answer, whether you'll admit him.c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:
The pond was another favourite place to visit. Moorhens strutted from the neighbouring bushes, and a bevy of Muscovy ducks, a study in black, white and red, waddled from the farmyard hard by to enjoy a refreshing splash.1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 217:
So I took a great dry gourd and, cutting open the head, scooped out the inside and cleaned it; after which I gathered grapes from a vine which grew hard by and squeezed them into the gourd, till it was full of the juice. Then I stopped up the mouth and set in the sun, where I left it for some days, until it became strong wine; and every day I used to drink of it, to comfort and sustain me under my fatigues with that from froward and obstinate fiend; and as often as I drank myself drunk, I forgot my troubles and took new heart.1885–1888, Richard F[rancis] Burton, transl. and editor, A Plain and Literal Translation of the Arabian Nights’ Entertainments, now Entituled The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night […], Shammar edition, volume (please specify the volume), [London]: […] Burton Club […], →OCLC: