nearhand en · ADJ · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- /ˈnɪə(ɹ).hand/ (UK)
Etymology
From Middle English nerhand, nerehand, nerehonde, equivalent to near + hand.
Meanings
-
Nearby; close at hand; nigh; adjacent.
We are nearer hand to the great coal districts, and there is a tendency for the men to go there. We are nearer hand to the great mining centres than are those that Mr. Scott represented
1894, Royal Commission on Agriculture, “Minutes of evidence taken before Her Majesty's commissioners”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name), volumes 1-2, page 527:But whether, when he should break his camp at Forney's plantation, he would go northward after Morgan and the prisoners, or cross the river at some nearhand ford to chase our main, none of our scouts could tell us.
1902, Francis Lynde, The master of Appleby, page 518:The person discovering the fire will immediately endeavor to extinguish it by the use of the nearest means at hand, such as suffocation by blankets or other material, use of w7ater, or the nearest hand fire extinguisher or pyrene outfit
1921, United States naval medical bulletin, volume 15, page 320:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| more nearhand | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| most nearhand | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |