Next (n&ebreve_;kst), a., superl. of Nigh. [AS. nēhst, niéhst, n&ymacr_;hst, superl. of neáh nigh. See Nigh.] 1. Nearest in place; having no similar object intervening. Chaucer.
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Her princely guest
Was next her side; in order sat the rest. Dryden.
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Fear followed me so hard, that I fled the next way. Bunyan.
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2. Nearest in time; as, the next day or hour.
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3. Adjoining in a series; immediately preceding or following in order.
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None could tell whose turn should be the next. Gay.
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4. Nearest in degree, quality, rank, right, or relation; as, the next heir was an infant.
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The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen. Ruth ii. 20.
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&hand_; 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.
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Next friend (Law), one who represents an infant, a married woman, or any person who can not appear sui juris, in a suit at law.
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