1.Not far distant in time, place, or degree; not remote; close at hand; adjacent; neighboring; nigh. "As one near death." "He served great Hector, and was ever near, Not with his trumpet only, but his spear."
2.Closely connected or related. "She is thy father's near kinswoman."
3.Close to one's interests, affection, etc.; touching, or affecting intimately; intimate; dear; as, a near friend.
4.Close to anything followed or imitated; not free, loose, or rambling; as, a version near to the original.
5.So as barely to avoid or pass injury or loss; close; narrow (3); as, a near escape; a near miss.
7.Immediate; direct; close; short. "The nearest way."
8.Close-fisted; parsimonious. (Obs. or Low, Eng.) Note: Near may properly be followed by to before the thing approached; but more frequently to is omitted, and the adjective or the adverb is regarded as a preposition. The same is also true of the word nigh.
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