a., superl. of Nigh. [ AS. nēhst, niéhst, n&ymacr_;hst, superl. of neáh nigh. See Nigh. ]
Her princely guest
Was next her side; in order sat the rest. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]
Fear followed me so hard, that I fled the next way. Bunyan. [ 1913 Webster ]
None could tell whose turn should be the next. Gay. [ 1913 Webster ]
The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen. Ruth ii. 20. [ 1913 Webster ]
☞ Next is usually followed by to before an object, but to is sometimes omitted. In such cases next in considered by many grammarians as a preposition. [ 1913 Webster ]
Next friend (Law),
adv. In the time, place, or order nearest or immediately succeeding;
adj. next preceding the last;