Next, adv. In the time, place, or
order nearest or immediately succeeding; as, this man follows
next.
Next (nĕkst), a.,
superl. of Nigh. [AS. nēhst,
niéhst, nȳhst, superl. of
neÁh nigh. See Nigh.] 1.
Nearest in place; having no similar object intervening.
Chaucer.
Her princely guest
Was next her side; in order sat the rest.
Dryden.
Fear followed me so hard, that I fled the next
way.
Bunyan.
2. Nearest in time; as, the next day
or hour.
3. Adjoining in a series; immediately
preceding or following in order.
None could tell whose turn should be the
next.
Gay.
4. Nearest in degree, quality, rank, right,
or relation; as, the next heir was an infant.
The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next
kinsmen.
Ruth ii. 20.
☞ 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.
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.