Nearest; closest; immediately following. See Green v. MoLaren, 7 Ga. 107; State v. Asbell, 57 Kan. 398, 46 Pac. 770; German Security Bank v. McGarry, 106 Ala. 633, 17 South. 704. Next devisee. By the term 44first devisee” is ounderstood the person to whom the estate is first given by the will, while the term “next devisee” refers to the person to whom the remainder is given. Young v. Robinson, 5 N. J. Law, 689. Next friend. The legal designation of the person by whom an infant or other person disabled from suing in his own name brings and prosecutes an action either at law or in equity; usually a relative. Strictly speaking, a next friend (or “prochein amy”) is not appointed by the court to bring or maintain the suit, but is simply one who volunteers for that purpose, and is merely admitted or permitted to sue in behalf of the infant; but the practice of suing by a next friend has now been almost entirely superseded by the practice of appointing S guardian ad litem. See McKinney v. Jones, 55 Wis. 39. 11 N. W. 606; Guild v. Cranston, 8 Cush. (Mass.) 506; Tucker v. Dabbs, 12 Heisk. (Tenn.) 18; Leopold v. Meyer, 10 Abb. Prac (N. Y.) 40. Next of kin. In the law of descent and distribution. This term properly denotes the persons nearest of kindred to the decedent, that is. those who are most nearly related to him by blood; but it is sometimes construed to mean only those who are entitled to take under the statute of distributions, and sometimes to include other persons. 2 Story. Eq. Jur.