nean

Meaning

1. almost

   Wēn is þæt ēower sum cweðe tō him sylfum on stillum ġeðōhtum, ‘Hwæt forlēton þās ġebrōðru, Petrus and Andrēas, þe for nēan nān ðing næfdon?,’ ac wē sċeolon on þisum ðinge heora ġewilnunge swīðor āsmēaġan þonne heora ġestrēon.

   It is to be expected that one of you in his quiet thoughts say to himself, ‘What did the brothers, Peter and Andrew, leave, who had almost nothing?,’ but in this case we should rather consider their desire than their possession.

   c. 992, Ælfric, "The Nativity of St. Clement the Martyr"

2. nearly

3. about

4. from near

5. close at hand

6. near