Proximity is an expression often used in the English language, although it is not an elegant expression. We will look at the definition of proximity, why it can be considered problematic and some examples of its use in sentences. The name was soon used to refer to other types of proximity: time, space, distance, etc. Today, «proximity» is the predominant usage in terms of distance. «Nearby Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20close%20proximity. Retrieved 8 October 2022. A: Well, the phrase «nearby» is not very graceful (we would prefer «near» or «nearby»), but we don`t think it`s superfluous, as we`ll explain. Irma will also likely be removed beyond Wednesday by heavy pressure in the Atlantic, keeping the storm a major hurricane and on a path that will place the storm near Florida until next weekend. (The Washington Post) Theoretically, the noun «proximity» should not need the help of an adjective like «close». «Mr.
Beard and Miss Compton disagreed on removing the meat from the fire, probably because Mr. Beard had in mind a smaller bed of fire to which the steak might be nearby» (from the New York Times, 1954). Subscribe to America`s largest dictionary and get thousands of other definitions and an advanced search – ad-free! But theory is one thing and facts are another. In reality, there are degrees of proximity, so it is useful to indicate how close it is to using an adjective such as «near», «closer» or «closest». It wasn`t the first time he came close to the Liam MacCarthy Trophy after driving the winning team`s bus across the Shannon when Galway won the All-Ireland title in 1980. (The Irish examiner) When «proximity» was first recorded in English in 1480, «proximity» referred to consanguinity or kinship (as in the phrase «proximity of blood,» first recorded in the 16th century and still used occasionally). Elsewhere in the same guide, we found this example in a description of the town of Carlisle: «It dates from Roman times and was in the immediate vicinity of Hadrian`s Wall.» The word «proximity» came in English from the French proximity, says the OED. It is derived from the Latin noun proximitas (proximity or kinship), which comes from the adjective proximus (next, next).
«Grass [tansy] only works on plants in close proximity» (from New York Times Magazine, 1980). As Merriam-Webster`s Dictionary of English Usage puts it, «Of course, there are degrees of proximity, and proximity simply emphasizes proximity.» The instruction manual gives many examples, including this one: «Swallow means porch bird, and for centuries and centuries their nests were placed in close proximity to man» (from Richard Jefferies` book The Open Air, 1885). But then the prospect of a boring group of members in the immediate vicinity, all thinking for themselves, is what no human being can meet with equanimity. Closeness describes something that is close when it comes to placement in space or time or the status of a relationship. Although proximity is a fairly common expression, many people consider it a misuse of English grammar. The word proximity means near or near, and the addition of the word near is simply repetitive. This makes the term proximity a tautology or redundancy. A tautology or redundancy is the use of two or more words in the same sentence that contains the meaning of a modifier in the word it alters. Other examples of expressions that are tautologies are twins and new beginnings. It is not recommended to use tautologies in your own writing, as it gives the impression of not fully understanding the subject you are writing about or the use of the English language. On the other hand, the term proximity can be used to indicate degrees of proximity by changing the adjective, since related terms are closer and closer to proximity. This OED has dozens of examples of use dating back to the early 1800s.
Here is an excerpt from an 1872 guide to the Lake District of England: «Because of its proximity to the sea.» We conclude with another example from the M-W user manual. It is based on Iolanthe (1882), by W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan. This sentence is a pompous and redundant way of saying «close». Proximity does not mean «distance»; It means «proximity», so proximity means «proximity». In itself, «proximity» sometimes seems inadequate, which is why the word naked seems strange to you. A statement like «There`s no restaurant near my apartment» could mean less than a block away or a ten-minute drive. Q: I`d like to hear your views on «proximity.» If «in the vicinity of» means «in the immediate vicinity of», what does «in the immediate vicinity of» mean? The inclusion of «close» seems superfluous to me, but it seems strange to me to omit it. This reconstructed word, Ayto adds, was «a variant of prope from which English receives approximation and propinquity.» John Ayto`s Dictionary of Word Origins says that the Latin proximus (next) was the superlative form of an «unregistered» Latin word reconstructed into proque (near).
Another English relative, says Ayto, is «approximately,» which ultimately comes from the Latin verb proximare («closer»).