Nigh vs Ready - What's the difference?
nigh | ready | Related terms |
(archaic, poetic) near, close by
* , 2006, Echo Library,
* 1831 , , The History of the Reformation of Religion in Scotland ,
* 1834 , , A Narrative of the Life of David Crockett ,
* 1889 , , Debates: Official Report , Volume 2,
Not remote in degree, kindred, circumstances, etc.; closely allied; intimate.
* Knolles
* Bible, Eph. ii. 13
To draw nigh (to); to approach; to come near.
Almost, nearly.
*, chapter=12
, title= near; close to
Prepared for immediate action or use.
:
*(John Milton) (1608-1674)
*:If need be, I am ready to forego / And quit.
*(Henry Fielding) (1707-1754)
*:Dinner was ready .
Inclined; apt to happen.
Liable at any moment.
:
*(William Shakespeare) (1564-1616)
*:My heart is ready to crack.
Not slow or hesitating; quick in action or perception of any kind; dexterous; prompt; easy; expert.
:
*Sir (Walter Scott) (1771-1832)
*:whose temper was ready , through surly
* (1800-1859)
*:ready in devising expedients
*
*:Molly the dairymaid came a little way from the rickyard, and said she would pluck the pigeon that very night after work. She was always ready to do anything for us boys; and we could never quite make out why they scolded her so for an idle hussy indoors. It seemed so unjust. Looking back, I recollect she had very beautiful brown eyes.
*{{quote-magazine, date=2013-08-10, volume=408, issue=8848, magazine=(The Economist), author=Lexington
, title= Offering itself at once; at hand; opportune; convenient.
*(John Milton) (1608-1674)
*:the readiest way
*(John Dryden) (1631-1700)
*:A sapling pine he wrenched from out the ground, / The readiest weapon that his fury found.
To make prepared for action.
(slang) ready money; cash
* Arbuthnot
Nigh is a related term of ready.
As adjectives the difference between nigh and ready
is that nigh is (archaic|poetic) near, close by while ready is prepared for immediate action or use.As verbs the difference between nigh and ready
is that nigh is to draw nigh (to); to approach; to come near while ready is to make prepared for action.As an adverb nigh
is almost, nearly.As a preposition nigh
is near; close to.As a noun ready is
(slang) ready money; cash.nigh
English
Adjective
(en-adj)- The end is nigh !
page 185,
- He at his head took aim who stood most nigh ;
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.
page 197,
- The enemy, somewhat imboldened, draws nigher to the fort.
page 1408,
- You then went to St. Andrews, the nighest ocean port.
- nigh kinsmen
- 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, nearVerb
(en verb)- night is nighing'', ''death is nighing
- nighing his hour
- a death-nighing moan
Quotations
* (English Citations of "nigh")Adverb
(-)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-wellPreposition
(English prepositions)- When the Moon is horned ... is it not ever nigh the Sun?
ready
English
Adjective
(er)Keeping the mighty honest, passage=The [Washington] Post's proprietor through those turbulent [Watergate] days, Katharine Graham, held a double place in Washington’s hierarchy: at once regal Georgetown hostess and scrappy newshound, ready to hold the establishment to account.}}
Synonyms
* good to goVerb
Derived terms
* at the ready * cable ready * camera-ready * make-ready * on the ready * oven-ready * * readiness * ready-made * ready money * ready or not * ready reckoner * ready room * * * ready to hand * ready-to-wear * * rough and readyNoun
- Lord Strut was not flush in ready , either to go to law, or to clear old debts.