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Late vs Nigh - What's the difference?

late | nigh |

As adjectives the difference between late and nigh

is that late is near the end of a period of time while nigh is near, close by.

As adverbs the difference between late and nigh

is that late is after a deadline has passed, past a designated time while nigh is almost, nearly.

As a noun late

is a shift (scheduled work period) that takes place late in the day or at night.

As a verb nigh is

to draw nigh (to); to approach; to come near.

As a preposition nigh is

near; close to.

late

English

Adjective

(er)
  • Near the end of a period of time.
  • Specifically, near the end of the day.
  • (usually, not used comparatively) Associated with the end of a period.
  • Not arriving until after an expected time.
  • Not having had an expected menstrual period.
  • (deceased)(not comparable, euphemistic) Deceased, dead:
  • * , chapter=12
    • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=To Edward […] he was terrible, nerve-inflaming, poisonously asphyxiating. He sat rocking himself in the late Mr. Churchill's swing chair, smoking and twaddling.}}
  • Existing or holding some position not long ago, but not now; departed, or gone out of office.
  • Recent — relative to the noun it modifies.
  • * 1914 , (Robert Frost), (North of Boston) , "A Hundred Collars":
    • Lancaster bore him — such a little town, / Such a great man. It doesn't see him often / Of late years, though he keeps the old homestead / And sends the children down there with their mother

    Usage notes

    * (deceased) (term) in this sense is unusual among English adjectives in that it qualifies named individuals (in phrases like (term)) without creating a contrast with another Mary who is not late. Contrast (hungry): a phrase like (term) is usually only used if another Mary is under discussion who is not hungry.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (informal) A shift (scheduled work period) that takes place late in the day or at night.
  • * 2007 , Paul W Browning, The Good Guys Wear Blue
    • At about 11 pm one night in Corporation Street my watch were on van patrol and Yellow Watch were on lates as usual.

    Adverb

    (er)
  • After a deadline has passed, past a designated time.
    • We drove as fast as we could, but we still arrived late .
  • formerly, especially in the context of service in a military unit.
  • :Colonel Easterwood, late of the 34th Carbines, was a guest at the dinner party.

    • Derived terms

    * a day late and a dollar short * as of late * better late than never * * late bloomer * latecomer * late in the day * late in the game * lately * late night * later * sooner or later

    References

    * 2009 April 3, , "Re: Has 'late' split up into a pair of homonyms?", message-ID <bdb13686-a6e4-43cd-8445-efe353365394@l13g2000vba.googlegroups.com>, alt.usage.english'' and ''sci.lang , Usenet.

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    * * * * * * * 1000 English basic words ----

    nigh

    English

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • (archaic, poetic) near, close by
    • The end is nigh !
  • * , 2006, Echo Library, page 185,
    • He at his head took aim who stood most nigh ;
  • * 1831 , , The History of the Reformation of Religion in Scotland , page 421,
    • By these and many histories more, it is most evident, that the more nigh salvation and deliverance approach, the more vehement is temptation and trouble.
  • * 1834 , , A Narrative of the Life of David Crockett , page 197,
    • The enemy, somewhat imboldened, draws nigher to the fort.
  • * 1889 , , Debates: Official Report , Volume 2, page 1408,
    • You then went to St. Andrews, the nighest ocean port.
  • Not remote in degree, kindred, circumstances, etc.; closely allied; intimate.
  • * Knolles
    • nigh kinsmen
  • * Bible, Eph. ii. 13
    • Ye are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

    Usage notes

    * is used today mostly in archaic, poetic, or regional contexts.

    Synonyms

    * (near) close, close by, close to, near

    Related terms

    * near * next * neighbor

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To draw nigh (to); to approach; to come near.
    • night is nighing'', ''death is nighing
    nighing his hour
    a death-nighing moan

    Quotations

    * (English Citations of "nigh")

    Adverb

    (-)
  • Almost, nearly.
  • *, chapter=12
    • , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients , passage=So, after a spell, he decided to make the best of it and shoved us into the front parlor.

    Usage notes

    * Nigh is sometimes used as a combining form.

    Quotations

    * (English Citations of "nigh")

    Derived terms

    * well-nigh * nigh on * nigh-well

    Preposition

    (English prepositions)
  • near; close to
    • When the Moon is horned ... is it not ever nigh the Sun?