well-nigh

See also: well nigh and wellnigh

English

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): [ˈwɛɫnaɪ]

Adverb

well-nigh (not comparable)

  1. Almost, very nearly.
    • 1885, Richard F. Burton, The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night:
      […] Sindbad the Seaman continued:— So when I escaped drowning and reached the island which afforded me fruit to eat and water to drink, I returned thanks to the Most High and glorified Him; after which I sat till nightfall, hearing no voice and seeing none inhabitant. Then I lay down, well-nigh dead for travail and trouble and terror, and slept without surcease till morning, […]
    • 1910, Erwin Rosen, In the Legion‎, HTML edition, The Gutenberg Project, published 2012:
      There was only one objection to the fulfilment of this wish: the regimental coffers were wellnigh empty.

Translations
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