 think that you were in deed very close,
&gt;as close as mediately and ultimately can be.

Alas, as I have no idea what 'mediately' means; and as I inserted 
'ultimately' more for emphasis than for content, allow me to 
retrospectively withdraw it and simply say:

Meaning is concerned with what 'we' can know, ....

&gt;And per your request, I will spare you for now
&gt;the many places where so-&amp;-so said it to be so.
&gt;
&gt; &gt; I think this is deeply and profoundly ass-backwards,
&gt; &gt; since unti