Pronunciation: [kˈe͡ɪm nˈi͡ə] (IPA) 
The phrase "came near" is spelled using the phonetic transcription: /keɪm nɪr/. The first syllable "came" is pronounced with the long "a" sound as in "cake" followed by the "m" and "d" consonants. The second syllable "near" is pronounced with the short "e" sound as in "met" followed by the "r" consonant. This phrase is commonly used to describe a situation in which someone almost did something, but did not do it completely.
The phrase "came near" is often used to describe a situation where someone or something approaches or gets close to a particular outcome or goal, but falls short or narrowly misses achieving it. It is an idiom that signifies a close but unsuccessful attempt at reaching a desired objective, leading to a sense of nearness or proximity to success without actually attaining it.
This expression can be applied to various contexts and situations. For instance, in sports, a team may have come near to winning the championship if they reached the final match but failed to secure the victory. Similarly, an individual might come near to setting a personal best in a running race if they finish just a few seconds behind their target time.
"Coming near" can also refer to narrowly avoiding a negative outcome or danger. For example, if someone manages to avoid a traffic accident by swerving at the last moment, they can be said to have come near to having a collision. In this case, their quick reflexes allowed them to escape potential harm, highlighting the nearness or proximity to a negative event that was fortunately averted.
Overall, "came near" describes a scenario in which something or someone closely approached a particular outcome, positive or negative, but ultimately fell short or escaped by a narrow margin. The phrase emphasizes the proximity to the intended or anticipated result, while acknowledging the actual outcome as not fully achieved.
The phrase "came near" consists of two separate words: "came" and "near".
The word "came" is the past tense of the verb "come", which originated from the Old English word "cuman". Its etymology traces back to the Proto-Germanic word "kwemanan", meaning "to come, arrive".
The word "near" came from Old English as well, originating from the word "neah", which has a common Germanic root. The Proto-Germanic word "nēhwaz" evolved into "neah" and eventually "near" in modern English, meaning "close, nearby".
So, the etymology of "came near" combines Old English origins, with "came" tracing back to Proto-Germanic, and "near" having a common Germanic ancestor.
