whilere, adv. arch.
(hwaɪlˈɛə(r))
[Orig. two words, while adv. 2 and ere; for the abbreviated spelling cf. wherever.]
A while before; some time ago: = erewhile.
| a 1000 Judith 214 Þa þe hwile ær elðeodiᵹra edwit þoledon. c 1386 Chaucer Can. Yeom. Prol. & T. 775 Helpeth me now as a dide yow whil eer. c 1412 Hoccleve De Reg. Princ. 1317 Whyl er, my sone, tolde I naght to þe What habundance in youth I hadde of good. c 1460 J. Russell Bk. Nurture 377 Son, take þy knyfe as y taught þe whileere, Kut bravne in þe dische riȝt as hit liethe there. 1590 Spenser F.Q. i. ix. 28 That cursed wight, from whom I scapt whyleare. 1610 Shakes. Temp. iii. ii. 127 Will you troule the Catch You taught me but whileare? 1630 Milton Circumcision 10 He who with all Heavn's heraldry whileare Enter'd the world, now bleeds to give us ease. a 1652 Brome Weeding of Cov.-Garden i. i, Mark how he stands, as if he had learn't a posture at Knightsbridge spittle as we came along while-eare. 1767 Mickle Concub. i. ii, Melodious Mulla! when, full oft whyleare, Thy gliding Murmurs soothd the gentle Brest Of hapless Spenser. 1808 Scott Marm. v. Introd. 139 My harp..Whose Anglo-Norman tones whilere Could win the royal Henry's ear. 1884 J. Payne Tales from Arabic I. 225 How joyous and how solaceful was life in them whilere! |