adv. Obs. [f. FOR prep. + néan wk. dat. neut. of néah NIGH.] Nearly, almost.

1

c. 1000.  Ags. Ps. lxxii[i]. 1.

        Me fornean syndon    losode nu þa
ealle on foldan    fota gangas.

2

a. 1175.  Cott. Hom., 227. For nean en ende þissere wurold.

3