The crossword solution for the term NEARS MIDNIGHT is LATENS, which is a six-letter word. LATENS is a Latin verb meaning 'to be late or slow' and is related to the English word 'LATENT'. It is often used to describe something that is not yet visible or present but is expected to appear soon. In this context, it can be interpreted to mean that something is close to happening, such as the approach of midnight.