Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Near \Near\, a. [Compar. {Nearer}; superl. {Nearest}.] [See
   {Near}, adv.]
   1. Not far distant in time, place, or degree; not remote;
      close at hand; adjacent; neighboring; nigh. ``As one near
      death.'' --Shak.

            He served great Hector, and was ever near, Not with
            his trumpet only, but his spear.      --Dryden.

   2. Closely connected or related.

            She is thy father's near kinswoman.   --Lev. xviii.
                                                  12.

   3. Close to one's interests, affection, etc.; touching, or
      affecting intimately; intimate; dear; as, a near friend.

   4. Close to anything followed or imitated; not free, loose,
      or rambling; as, a version near to the original.

   5. So as barely to avoid or pass injury or loss; close;
      narrow; as, a near escape.

   6. Next to the driver, when he is on foot; in the Unted
      States, on the left of an animal or a team; as, the near
      ox; the near leg. See {Off side}, under {Off}, a.

   7. Immediate; direct; close; short. ``The nearest way.''
      --Milton.

   8. Close-fisted; parsimonious. [Obs. or Low, Eng.]

   Note: Near may properly be followed by to before the thing
         approached'; but more frequently to is omitted, and the
         adjective or the adverb is regarded as a preposition.
         The same is also true of the word nigh.

   Syn: Nigh; close; adjacent; proximate; contiguous; present;
        ready; intimate; dear.

Source : WordNet®

nearer
     adj : (comparative of `near') being the one of two that is less
           distant in space; "we walked to the nearer house"
     adv : (comparative of `near' or `close') within a shorter
           distance; "come closer, my dear!"; "they drew nearer";
           "getting nearer to the true explanation" [syn: {nigher},
            {closer}]