adv. Also as one word or two. [OE. wel néah, néh, f. WELL adv. 18 + NIGH adv.] Very nearly, almost wholly or entirely.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron., an. 999 (MS. F.). Welneah eall West Cent. Ibid. (a. 1135), an. 1132 (Laud MS.). Sua ðæt te king was wel-neh bepaht.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 33. Hie forwundeden him welneih to deaðe.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 44. Hire horte was so gret, Þat welneȝ hire fnast atschet.
c. 1275. Passion our Lord, 477, in O. E. Misc., 50. Hit wes welneyh mydday þo þusternesse com.
1387. Trevisa, Higden, III. 281. Wel nyh alle his lyf tyme.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 539. Of werke well ne I wede.
1449. Pecock, Repr., I. i. 7. Weelnyȝ thoruȝ al the chapiter.
1581. Rich, Farew. Milit. Prof., P j. There was alreadie a whole yeare and a halfe welnie paste.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, V. iv. 81 (Qo.). They swore that you were welnigh dead for me.
1604. T. Wright, Passions, I. vi. 22. The experience is common (welnie) in all beasts.
1612. Two Noble K., III. ii. Tis now welnigh morning.
a. 1657. W. Burton, Itin. Anton. (1658), 34. I had wel-nigh forgotten the distance.
1780. S. J. Pratt, Emma Corbett (ed. 4), I. 6. The blow which killed a son had well nigh killed a father also.
1848. Whittier, Pæan, 2. The dreary night has wellnigh passed.
1864. Dasent, Jest & Earnest (1873), II. 263. Though before they were well-nigh beggars.
1896. Law Times, C. 489/2. Suspicion pointed strongly, well-nigh overwhelmingly against the prisoner.
1920. F. C. Montague, in Eng. Hist. Rev., Jan., 144. The amiable and wellnigh faultless hero.
