nærmere

Nærmere is a comparative form of the Danish and Norwegian adjective nær, meaning near or close. It is used as a degree adverb to express a greater degree of proximity or precision, and is often translated as “closer” or “more precisely” in English. In everyday language it appears in phrases that indicate increased closeness in space or time, or greater specificity in description.

In Norwegian and Danish grammar, nærmere functions as a modifier that can precede adjectives or other adverbs. It is common in fixed expressions such as nærmere bestemt, meaning more precisely or more specifically, and nærmere sagt, meaning so to speak or to be more precise. The word can also appear in contexts describing investigations or assessments as closer examinations or more detailed analyses.

Etymologically, nærmere derives from the stem nær (near) with the suffix -mere, a productive way to form comparative forms in Germanic languages. The related superlative form is nærmest. While primarily a grammatical form, nærmere has a broad pragmatic use: it softens or sharpens statements by signaling a higher degree of proximity or specificity.

See also: nær, nærhet, nærmest. In practice, the term is most often encountered in Danish and Norwegian texts dealing with precise description, close physical proximity, or careful specification.