whenas, when as, adv., conj. arch.
(hwɛnˈæz, ˈhwɛn æz)
[f. when + as adv. 27.]
1. At the, or a, time at which; in a case in which: = when 4, 8.
| 1423 Jas. I Kingis Q. ii, Quhen as I lay In bed allone waking,..Fell me to mynd of many diuerse thing. 1550 Lever Serm. 4th Sund. Lent A vij b, Ye shall heare, when as much people commynge vnto Iesus,..what Iesus did. 1574 T. Hill Art Garden., Bees 66 This is a great token of raine to follow, when as the Sunne in the day time, and the Moone in the night, do appeare pale, or blackish of colour. 1602 Kyd Sp. Trag. iii. H 2 b, At the mid of noone, When as the Sun-God rides in all his glorie. 1638 Quarles Hieroglyph. vii. iv, Subjects must vail, whenas their Sov'reigne's by. 1748 Thomson Cast. Indol. i. lxv, Whenas we found he would not here be pent, To him the better sort this friendly message sent. 1808 Scott Marm. i. xxviii, Whenas the Palmer came in hall, Nor lord, nor knight, was there more tall. 1904 M. Hewlett Queen's Quair ii. vi, Whenas he hesitated..she came forward in a pretty, shy way. |
† b. At which time; and then; whereupon: = when 6. Obs.
| 1553 in Feuillerat Revels Q. Mary (1914) 159 Vntill the xxviij{supt}{suph} daye of the same monethe wen as the same..surseased. 1631 Weever Anc. Funeral Mon. 254 Hugh had scarce continued one yeare of probation, when as the fore⁓said Abbot Wido departed the world. 1697 J. Sergeant Solid Philos. 205 Where's that Other Duration or Succession before Time,..whenas 'tis confessed there was none. |
2. a. Seeing that, inasmuch as: = when 9 a.
| 1551 Turner Herbal i. B ij b, When as the greater Galanga is..without any..euell sauoure I wold rather take great Galanga for Acorus, then the comon calamus. 1644 Milton Areop. (Arb.) 57 How can he be a Doctor in his book..whenas all he teaches..is but under..the correction of his patriarchal licencer? 1728 in Sewall's Letter-bk. (1886) II. 240, I may well condole the bereavement, whenas so much personal friendship is therewithall vanished. 1899 C. W. Doyle Taming of Jungle i, Whenas my back smarted..from the blows of the chuprassi's shoe,..I took the oil from my chirag and anointed my back therewith. |
b. In adversative sense: Whereas: = when 9 b.
| 1578 Timme Calvin on Gen. 95 They doe verie childishly erre, which do consider originall sinne onely..in the inordinate motion of appetites: when as it fulfilleth the seate of reason and the whole hart. 1593 Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, v. vii. 34 So Iudas kist his master, And cried all haile, when as he meant all harme. 1699 Bentley Phal. 272 He brings in this Date of Solon's Death, out of Phanias: as if it was a point uncontroverted, and allow'd by Plutarch himself. Whenas Plutarch barely mentions it. 1711 Sewall Diary 14 May (1879) II. 311 Through the Goodness of God I had little or no hurt, when as my Horse's Nose bled for it. |