Emily Dickinson Lexicon

NIGH, adv. [ni.]

1. Near; at a small distance in place or time, or in the course of events. He was sick, nigh to death. Phil. ii.
2. Near to a place. He drew nigh. Milton.
3. Almost; near. He was nigh dead. Nigh is never a preposition. In the phrase, “nigh this recent, with terror they survey,” there is an ellipsis of to. They nigh to this recess, survey, &c.