▪ I. while, n.
(hwaɪl)
Forms: 1, 4 hwil, (1 huil), 2–5 wil, 3 hwile, (ȝwile, ȝwyle, ȝuile), 3–5, 7 whil, 4 huile, (wyel), 4–5 whyl, whylle, 4–6 whyll, wyle, 4–7 whyle, (chiefly Sc.) whill, 4–5 wile, 5 wyl, wyll, (weil, whylghe), 5, 7 whille, 6 wylle, will, (whyell, vyl, Sc. vhyle, vhill), 3– while; 3–4 quil, 3–5 quile, 4 quyl, quyle, quille, 4–6 Sc. quhile, qwhil, 4–7 Sc. quhil, (9 arch.) quhill, 4–8 Sc. quhyle, 5 qwile, qwyle, qwil, qwill, Sc. qwhile, (qwhiel), qwhill(e, quhille, 5, 6 Sc. qwyl, 5–6 Sc. quhyl, qwhyl, 6 Sc. quhyll. β. 3 hwule, whule, wule.
[OE. hw{iacu}l str. fem. = OFris. hwîle, wîle (Fris. wîl), OS. hwîl, hwîla time (MDu. wîle hour, moment, Du. wijl), OHG. hwîl, (h)wîla point or period of time (MHG. wîle, G. weile), ON. hv{iacu}la bed (Sw. hvila, Da. hvile repose, refreshment), Goth. hweila time:—OTeut. *χwīlō, the first syllable of which derives from Indo-eur. q{supw}i-, represented by L. quiēs rest, tranquillus (= *-quilnos) quiet, OSl. počiti to rest; cf. the sense of ON. hv{iacu}la and hv{iacu}ld rest, repose, and of the continental forms of the verb.]
I. 1. a. A portion of time, considered with respect to its duration; = time n. 1, 2, rarely 4 or 6. Now almost exclusively in certain connexions (see below), the ordinary word being time. Formerly with gen. while's. Rarely pl.
| 971 Blickl. Hom. 125 Hwilce hwile hine wille Drihten her on worlde lætan. a 1250 Owl & Night. 1591 And swuþe longe hire is þe hwile, An ek steape hire þunþ a mile. a 1300 Cursor M. 22161 Als symon magus in his quile Right sua sal he þe folk bigile. 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 12562 Holy cherche, despyse and fyle, Þat wyl y bleþly, alle my whyle. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 221 He despeired for the while. 1473 Paston Lett. III. 89 They shall dwell ther I wot no whylghe. 1485 Caxton Paris & V. (1868) 82 After a whyle of tyme. 1533 More Answ. Poys. Bk. Wks. 1053/2 Though ye see euery man dye here for the whyle, yet I shall..reyse them all vp..at the last day. 1547–8 in Feuillerat Revels Edw. VI (1914) 32 During the whiles thies maskes were a makyng. a 1613 Overbury A Wife, etc. (1638) 277 Have but that while's patience, you may passe it drie-foot. 1644 Digby Nat. Bodies xv. §7. 135 The fire, in all this while of continuall application to the body it thus anatomiseth [etc.]. a 1683 Oldham On Morwent Wks. (1686) 75 Thy prudent Conduct had so learnt to measure The different whiles of Toil and Leisure. 1828 Southey in Corr. w. C. Bowles (1881) 133, I am now..stealing whiles of time for the Colloquies, which are approaching to their close. 1829 Carlyle Ess., Novalis (1840) II. 228 After short whiles, all is again swimming vaguely before them. 1841 Catlin N. Amer. Ind. liv, Filling up the while with nonsensical garrulity. 1894 in Milne Rom. Pro-consul (1911) 26 We had a capital while together. |
b. with adj. expressing quantity, as good (good a. 19), great, little, long, short; also any, no, some: forming esp. advb. phr. = for a (long, etc.) time.
| Beowulf 146 Wæs seo hwil micel. a 1000 Cædmon's Gen. 486 Lytle hwile sceolde he his lifes niotan. a 1175 Cott. Hom. 221 He wes to sume wile anstandende. c 1200 Ormin 2392 Ȝho bilæf wiþþ hire frend Ȝet affterr þatt summ while. c 1290 St. Dunstan 51 in S. Eng. Leg. 20 A guode ȝwyle it was a-gon. a 1300 Cursor M. 3124 He began to luf him sua Þat he moght na quil him for-ga. 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 632 Whether he lyf lang or short while. c 1450 Mankind 574 in Macro Plays 22 Ewynsonge hath be in þe saynge, I trow, a fayer wyll; I am yrke of yt. 1533 Elyot Cast. Helthe ii. xxviii. (1541) 45 To liue lesse while than other men. 1542 Udall Erasm. Apoph. 175 b, Philippus..had slept a great long while together. 1597 Morley Introd. Mus. 81 The shorter while you staie vpon the discord, the lesse offence you giue. 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. i. 506 Having enjoied these honors a small while. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 33 ¶1, I do not know any thing that has pleased me so much a great while. 1796 Burney Mem. Metastasio II. 201, I have not written to you a long while. 1836 Newman Lett. (1891) II. 197, I am not more lonely than I have been a long while. 1871 Ruskin Fors Clav. ii. 15 A little while since, I was paying a visit in Ireland. 1897 F. Montgomery Tony i, The two sat for a little while at the other end of the carriage. |
c. a while (also rarely one while): (a) as n. phr., a time, esp. a short or moderate time (chiefly with certain preps., viz. after, for, in, † within); contextually = a considerable time, some time, as in quite a while (colloq.). (b) as advb. phr. = for a (short or moderate) time (see also awhile).
once in a while: see once 8 c.
| (a) [c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Luke iv. 5 In momento temporis, in huil tides.] a 1300 Havelok 722 Ne were neuere but ane hwile Þat it ne gan a wind to rise. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 1620 Þe burne byfore baltazar was broȝt in a whyle. c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 4573 Wyþinne a wyle þer wer y-dyȝt, Mo þan ten þousant of Sarȝyns wyȝt. 1470–85 Malory Arthur vii. x. 226 Within a whyle they sawe a toure as whyte as ony snowe. 1513 Douglas æneis iv. iv. 29 Quhen Apollo list..leif the flude Exanthus, for a quhile, To vesy Delos. 1526 Tindale John xvi. 16 After a whyle ye shall nott se me. a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon lxi. 213 They were within a whyell far fro y⊇ londes of y⊇ .ii. admyralles sarazyns. 1561 T. Hoby tr. Castiglione's Courtyer iv. (1577) V viij b, After a whiles silence. 1621 Lady M. Wroth Urania 218 Pleasantly they passed a while together. 1718 Hutchinson Witchcraft xv. (1720) 232 After a while's Practice. 1847 Halliwell s.v., A while's work, work requiring a certain time. 1853 Dickens Bleak Ho. xliv, It is to be forgotten now; to be forgotten for a while. 1870 Freeman Norm. Conq. (ed. 2) I. App. YY 700 So Eadwig escapes, at least for one while. 1900 Longman's Mag. Mar. 450 She..rather enjoyed getting wet through once in a while. 1905 E. Glyn Viciss. Evang. 149 It was quite a while before he elicited the facts from me. |
| (b) 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 2352 He sede he moste wende a wule out of þis lond. a 1300 Cursor M. 1309 Quen seth a quil had loked in, He sagh..mikel welth and win. Ibid. 3622 A wyel sco hir vmbithogt. 1423 Jas. I Kingis Q. ii, I..toke a boke to rede apon a quhile. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 97 The sayde league continued but a while. 1667 Milton P.L. ii. 918 The warie fiend Stood on the brink of Hell and look'd a while, Pondering his Voyage. 1733 Fielding Don Quix. in Eng. ii. xiv, My landlord and the coachman won't overtake them one while, I warrant. 1781 Johnson L.P., Fenton, He was a while secretary to Charles earl of Orrery. 1816 J. Wilson City of Plague ii. ii, I will sit down a while. 1873 Spencer Study Sociol. vii. (1877) 148 The Smallpox epidemic, which a while since so unaccountably spread. |
d. with demonstr. adj. that or this (now only with all preceding), forming advb. phr.
| c 1480 Henryson Robene & Makyne 59 Makyne, I haif bene heir this quhyle; at hame god gif I wair. 1590 Spenser F.Q. ii. ii. 16 Her other sisters.., Who all this while were at their wanton rest. 1604 Shakes. Oth. iii. iv. 177, I haue this while with leaden thoughts beene prest. 1629 Gaule Pract. Theories Christ 355 The Iewes rested that Sabbath now; Christ rested that while in his Graue. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 51 ¶8 He would see he has been mistaken all this while. 1871 Smiles Charac. ii. (1876) 34 All this while, too, the training of the character is in progress. |
e. with qualifying n.: The duration of, or time needed for (what is denoted by the n.). Obs. or arch.
breathing-while, life-while, minute while, paternoster while, etc.: see the ns.
| 13.. [see twelvemonth 3]. 1377, 1591 [see minute n.1 1]. c 1430 Chev. Assigne 286 To speke with hym but a speche whyle. c 1450 in Aungier Syon (1840) 274 Al the bellys schal be ronge one Miserere whyle at leste, and than the chaptyr belle schal be ronge oo Pater noster while. 1593, 1873 [see breathing vbl. n. 10]. 1676 Wycherley Pl. Dealer iii. i, Stay but a making Water while, (as one may say) and I'll be with you again. |
2. a. the while (OE. þá hw{iacu}le accus.): (a) as advb. phr.: During the time, in the meantime, meanwhile; (b) followed by conj. † the or that, and later with ellipsis. arch. = while conj. 1. b. all the while (with constructions as above): During the whole time (that). † c. to while (with constructions as above): For a time; for the time, meanwhile; for the time that, while. So þer hwile, etc.: see therewhile. Obs. † d. in the while: in the mean time, meanwhile. Obs. (For in the mean while see mean while.) † e. most while (cf. most C.): on most occasions, for the most part. † f. by while: on occasion, from time to time. over while: at times. Cf. umquhile.
| a. (a) c 960 æthelwold Rule St. Benet (Schröer) ix. 33 Man þreo rædinga ræde and þry ræpsas, and ealle þa ᵹebroþra þa hwile sittan. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 1273 Þe king þe wule londone bisegede uaste. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. vii. 8 What schul we wimmen worche þe while? a 1425 Cursor M. 3889 (Trin.) Þe while [Cott. to quils] holde lya in bedde Þenne shal þou rachel wedde. 1593 Shakes. Rich. II ii. i. 211 Ile not be by the while. 1610 ― Temp. iii. i. 24 If you'l sit downe Ile beare your Logges the while. 1772 Mackenzie Man World i. xi, ‘I will go,’ said she, sobbing, ‘and pray for him the while.’ 1840 Dickens Old C. Shop xx, Mr. Chuckster..telling him he was wanted inside, bade him go in and he would mind the chaise the while. 1891 ‘J. S. Winter’ Lumley iv, Wouldn't you like some lollipops to eat the while? |
| (b) c 888 ælfred Boethius x, Eall hie [sc. earfoðnesse] us þyncað þy leohtran ða hwile þe þa oncras fæste bioð. 971 Blickl. Hom. 35 Swa we sceolan þa hwile þe we lifᵹaþ her on worlde. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 7 Þis witeȝede dauid þe þe salm scop in þe saltere muchel erdþon þa wile he liuede. c 1290 St. Cuthbert 3 in S. Eng. Leg. 359 Þe ȝwyle þat he was a ȝong child. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 1962 Þo was traen al a louerd þe wule it wolde ylaste. c 1425 Engl. Conq. Irel. 16 The whill the host was thus in Ossory. 1594 Marlowe & Nashe Dido i. i. A 4, The while thine eyes attract their sought for ioyes. 1605 Shakes. Macb. iii. ii. 32 Vnsafe the while, that wee must laue Our Honors in these flattering streames. 1633 G. Herbert Temple, Sacrifice xxxviii, I for both have wept When all my tears were bloud, the while you slept. 1650 J. Carstaires Lett. (1846) 68 Not the whyle I was at home with you nor since. 1820 Keats Lamia ii. 68 Beseeching him, the while his hand she wrung, To change his purpose. 1870 Morris Earthly Par. iii. 380 The while his right [hand] did shade His eyes from the bright sun. |
| b. a 1400 Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS. xxix. v. 49 For al þe while he was so seek, He feled neuere lisse ne lith, Þerfore hym þouȝte beter legles. 1482 Cely Papers (Camden) 109 Hyt was not comen to Bregys all the whyle he wus there. 1539 Bible (Great) 1 Sam. xxii. 4 They dwelt w{supt} him all the whyle that Dauid kepte him selfe in hold. 1600 J. Melvill Autob. & Diary (Wodrow Soc.) 485 He remeanit in the town all the whyll. 1654–66 Earl of Orrery Parthen. (1676) 685 All the while I was speaking, I was much concern'd in Statira's looks. 1667 Milton P.L. i. 539 All the while Sonorous mettal blowing Martial sounds. 1700 Hickes in Pepys's Diary, etc. (1879) VI. 206 She was shut up all the while we were there. 1844 Disraeli Coningsby viii. vi, The rogue had an eye all the while to quarter-day. a 1864 Hawthorne Septimius (1872) 152 But all the while he was gone there was the mark of a bloody footstep impressed upon the stone doorstep of the Hall. |
| c. c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Luke viii. 13 Qui ad tempus credunt, ðaðe to tid vel to huil ᵹelefað. c 1000 Sax. Leechd. II. 348 Þonne meaht þu hine betan to hwile. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 1104 We sulen it fren, Ðor quile ðu wilt ðor-inne ben. 13.. Cursor M. 22060 (Edinb.) An angel..To þe dragune suiþ he wanne,..And in þat pitte him sperid faste, To-quile a thusande ȝier to laste. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 4141 To whyle þe kyng & his cosyns In loue loken ar þer lynes, Richesse þey hadde ynow to wylle. 1338 ― Chron. (1810) 71 To while þat he was fresch þei fond him fulle austere. |
| d. 1542 Udall Erasm. Apoph. 77 Yet in y⊇ while, thei would neuer the more foloe the steppes of thesame good menne. 1605 B. Jonson Sejanus ii. ii, In the while, Take from their strength some one or twaine, or more Of the maine Fautors. a 1617 Bayne Lect. (1634) 11 In the while, wee must labour to keepe a watch over our soules. 1760–72 H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) II. 111 Mary, in the while, being frighted almost to death. |
| e. c 1383 in Eng. Hist. Rev. Oct. (1911) 742 Neiþir preestis neiþir dekenis shulden ben occupied in ony seculer office in lordis courtis most whil seculer men ben sufficient to do suche seculer office. |
| f. 13.. Orfeo 8 Sum [layes ben] of happes þat fallen by whyle. c 1400 Apol. Loll. 97 He cessiþ to harme hem, or fendiþ hem ouer wyl. |
3. spec. The time spent (connoting the trouble taken or labour performed) in doing something. † a. in phrases such as to quit or yield (one) his while, to repay (him) for his trouble, also ironically, to ‘pay (him) out’; to lose or spill one's while, to waste one's time or effort. Obs.
| c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 137 Mon sullðe his elmesse ðenne he heo ȝefeð sulche monne þe him deð..wiken and cherres and ðencheð mid his elmesse forȝelden him ðeo hwile. a 1250 Owl & Night. 1020 He miȝte bet sitte stille Vor al his wile he sholde spille. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 2476 Send after help..& icholle hor wule ȝelde. c 1386 Chaucer Miller's T. 113 A clerk hadde litherly biset his whyle But if he koude a Carpenter bigyle. 1390 Gower Conf. III. 151 The proverbe is, who that is trewe, Him schal his while nevere rewe. c 1400 Rom. Rose 4392 If Ielousie doth thee payne, Quyte hym his while thus agayne. c 1430 How Good Wife taught Dau. 111 in Babees Bk., And he þat weel dooþ, Þou qwite him weel his whyle. |
b. Now only in phr. worth the while (now rare or arch.), worth one's while, worth while: often merely = worth doing, profitable, advantageous (the notion of time being weakened or lost). to make it worth (a person's) while, to give (him) sufficient recompense.
| 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) IV. 355 The queene..beet Iudas ful ofte, but al for nouȝt, ffor it was not worþ þe while. 1639 Ld. Digby Lett. Conc. Relig. (1651) 123, I would not think my pains lost, or study of the Fathers not worth the while. 1662 Stillingfl. Orig. Sacræ iii. i. §18 It had not been worth while for the soul to have been in the body. 1672 Marvell Reh. Transp. i. 166 Nor is it worth ones while to teach him out of other Authors. 1755 F. Brooke Old Maid No. 4. 24 In one word, madam, make it worth my while. 1842 Lever Jack Hinton xxvii, It is worth while being a soldier in Ireland. 1861 Mrs. H. Wood East Lynne iii. xix, ‘Keep dark upon it, Bethel,’ he said; ‘I will make it worth your while.’ 1877 Huxley Physiogr. 93 It may be worth while to explain the kind of information which they give. |
† 4. (without article.) Sufficient or available time, leisure for doing something: = time n. 8.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 32 Ȝif ȝe habbeð hwule, siggeð þesne psalm, ‘Levavi oculos meos’. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) IV. 87 Whanne he myȝte have while he wroot fables. c 1450 Mirk's Festial 125 On Settyrday þay myȝt not haue whyll. 1600 Holland Livy vi. x, If they might have had while and time as well to follow it. a 1639 W. Whately Prototypes i. xix. (1640) 233 He can have while to ruminate upon the evil things which Satan and the fleshe doe stirre up. |
† 5. a. Term or period of office; transf. office, function, ‘place’. Obs. rare.
| c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xii. (Mathias) 351 Schaw quhilk of þire twa sal ve ches To supple þe quhyle of Iudas. c 1449 Pecock Repr. iii. xvi. 386 Thouȝ this man which now lyueth performe not the deede for his while. |
¶ b. Used in the Wycliffite Bible to render L. vicissitudo in senses of turn: (a) a service rendered (= turn n. 23); (b) by whiles, by turns (turn n. 28). Obs. rare.
| 1382 Wyclif 1 Sam. xxiv. 20 The Lord ȝeelde to thee this while [Vulg. vicissitudinem hanc], for that, that to day thou hast wrouȝt in me. 1388 ― 1 Kings v. 14 So that in twei monethis bi whilis thei weren in her howsis. |
II. 6. a. Time at which something happens or is done; occasion; † proper or suitable time; † season: = time n. 13–15. Obs. exc. arch. or dial. (or as in e below).
Mostly with qualifying word, either with prep. preceding, or with ellipsis of prep. forming advb. phr. (cf. 1 b–d, 2), e.g. that while = at that time, on that occasion, then; another while = ‘another time’, on another occasion; every while (also as one word, after everywhere), † at every time, always (obs.): every time, on every occasion (dial.). See also below, and otherwhile, somewhile.
| c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. xxvi. 55 In illa hora.., in ðæm tid vel in ðære huile. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 51 Þat israelisshe folc was walkende toward ierusalem,..and þo wile was hersum godes hese. c 1375 Cursor M. 13130 (Fairf.) Seynt Iohn þis quile in prisoun lay. c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 2140 Þus wyle was he on halle sittyng with is puple atte mete, Þan com þer an heþene kyng rydynge atte ȝete. c 1400 MS. Serm. (Tollem. MS.), We been not sufficiaunt to knowe þe tymes or þe whilis þat þe fadir of þe Trynyte haþ put in his owne power. 1418–20 J. Page Siege Rouen in Hist. Coll. Cit. Lond. (Camden) 33 The Fraynysche men in the same whyle, Forthe they went with Umfrevyle. c 1440 Pallad. on Husb. viii. 3 Whete heruest now in tempur lond is while Forto conclude. 1470–85 Malory Arthur vii. v. 218 Hope ye so that I maye ony whyle stand a proued knyght. 1503 Dunbar Thistle & Rose vi, Thow did promyt, in Mayis lusty quhyle, For to discryve the Ross. 1552–3 in Feuillerat Revels Edw. VI (1914) 129 At dyuers other tymes betwene those whiles. 1579–80 North Plutarch (1595) 842 The [dragon's] taile on a time fell out with the head, and complained, saying, it would another while go before, & would not alwaies come behind. 1648 Crashaw Steps, Hymn Epiph. 30 But every where, and every while, Is one consistent solid smile. 1671 H. M. tr. Erasm. Colloq. 149 Eu. Were those women who encouraged thee with thee that while? a 1850 Rossetti Dante & Circle i. (1874) 100 What while a lady greets me with her eyes. 1884 Cheshire Gloss., Every while stitch, every now and then; at times. 1886 Stevenson Kidnapped xxii, There are whiles..when ye are altogether too canny and Whiggish to be company for a gentleman like me. |
b. one while (advb. phr.): † (a) at one time, on one occasion, in one case (usually opp. to another while, sometimes to then, again, anon); also rarely = on some future occasion, ‘some time’ (Obs.); (b) U.S., a long time.
| 1470–85 Malory Arthur xvi. xvii. 688 Soo wente they douneward in the see one whyle bakward another whyle forward. 1575 Gammer Gurton ii. iii. 21 One whyle his tonge it ran and paltered of a cat; Another whyle he stammered styll vppon a rat. 1598 Sylvester Du Bartas ii. i. iii. Furies 450 One-while the Boulime, then the Anorexie, Then the Dog-hunger. 1664 South Serm., John xv. 15 (1697) II. 86 Those, who are one while courteous..and obliging,..but within a small time after, are so supercilious, sharp, [etc.]. 1744 E. Haywood Female Spect. v. (1748) I. 262 One while we are transmogrified into milk-maids—then into a kind of Amazonians. 1815 Kirby & Sp. Entomol. iii. (1818) I. 73 One while a silky fluid should be secreted, at another none. 1836 T. C. Haliburton Clockmaker (1837) 1st Ser. xvi. 136 You'll search one while..afore you'll find a man that..is equal to one of your free and enlightened citizens. 1852 Mrs. Stowe Uncle Tom's Cabin I. xi. 159 I'd mark him..so that he'd carry it one while. 1897 ‘Mark Twain’ Following Equator liii. 511 If India knows about nothing else American, she knows about those, and will keep them in mind one while. |
† c. With qualifying n. (cf. time n. 13 b), as dinner while, mass while, service while, supper while, etc.: see also the ns. (Sometimes including the idea of duration, as in 1 e.) Obs. (or rare arch.).
| 13.. [see mass n.1 7]. 1435 Misyn Fire of Love ii. x, With desire in meet qwhiel to ȝerne. 1557 Machyn Diary (Camden) 148 My lord of London begane the durge, with ys myter [on] alle the durge wylle. 1597 Beard Theatre God's Judgem. (1612) 119 The gouernour of Mascon, a Magitian, whom the diuell snatched vp in dinnerwhile. a 1667 C. Hoole Accidence (1671) 110 Inter cœnandum, at supper while. 1868 Browning Ring & Bk. i. 311 Be it but a straw 'twixt work and whistling-while. |
d. In exclamations of grief: cf. similar use of day, time. Chiefly poet. Obs. or arch.
| c 1402 Lydg. Compl. Bl. Knt. 244 This is the cold that wolde the fyr abate Of trewe mening; alas! the harde whyle! c 1440 York Myst. vi. 51 That we shulde haue alle welthis in walde, wa worthe þe whyle! 1513 Douglas æneis vi. viii. 77 Alace the quhile! a 1586 Montgomerie Misc. Poems xxi. 25 O! waryit be the vhyle That euer we wer acquent! 1596 Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, ii. iv. 146 God helpe the while, a bad world I say. 1810 Scott Lady of L. ii. xv, Woe the while That brought such wanderer to our isle! 1825 ― Talism. x, He conceives himself, God help the while, ungratefully treated. |
e. Phr. with pl.: at whiles, at times, sometimes, at intervals. between (betwixt obs. or arch.) whiles: see between-whiles.
| [c 1449 Pecock Repr. ii. xx. 273 Good and profitable to be had at certein whilis.] 1540 Palsgr. Acolastus v. i. X iv b, Me semeth now and than, or at whiles that [etc.]. 1647 Trapp Comm. Rom. ii. 15 Meanwhile, or, Betwixt whiles. 1717 Berkeley in Mem. (1784) 61 A sort of..dashing (as it were) of waves, and between whiles, a noise like that of thunder. 1802 Mrs. Radcliffe Gaston de Blond. Wks. 1826 II. 62 To drive away the gloom, that yet, at whiles, hung upon his brow. 1865 Swinburne Chastelard ii. i. 66 To think what grievous fear I have 'twixt whiles Of mine own self and of base men. |
▪ II. while, adv. (a.), conj. (prep.)
(hwaɪl)
Forms: 1–3 hwile; from c 1300 onwards as in while n.; also 4 quel, 5 whele, Sc. quhel, 6 whel, 8 wile, 9 dial. whell; 6 vhol, 9 dial. wol(l.
[As adv., OE. hw{iacu}le, accus. of hw{iacu}l while n.; as conj., abbreviation of OE. phr. þá hw{iacu}le þe, ME. þe while þat = ‘during the time that’ (see while n. 2 a), = OHG. dia wîla (unz) so long as (MHG. die wîle while, G. dieweil while, because), Du. dewijl; similar abbreviation has given G. weil because, Du. wijl, NFris. wîl.
In senses A. 1 and 2, ME. while may be in some texts a reduced form of whilen, whilom.]
A. adv. (adj.)
† 1. At a time or times, sometimes; esp. introducing each of two or more parallel phrases or clauses: At one time{ddd}at another time; now{ddd}then: = whilom 1. Obs.
| a 1000 Hymns iii. 44, 5 (Gr.) Hwile mid weorce, hwile mid worde, hwile mid ᵹeþohte þearle scyldi. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 133 Ure helend saweð his halie word hwile þurh his aȝene muðe and hwile þurh ðere apostlene muðe. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 207 Eȝen bihelden þat he ne sholden, wile idel, wile unnut, wile ifel. a 1300 Cursor M. 7433 Quil wit gleu, and quil wit sang,..Þus he serued saul lang. 1375 Barbour Bruce i. 338 For knawlage off mony statis May quhile awailȝe full mony gatis. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. (Royal MS.) i. Prol. 32 For Romans to rede is delytabyle, Suppose that thai be quhyle bot fable. c 1470 Henry Wallace v. 611 Quhill wald he think to luff hyr our the laiff, And othir quhill he thocht on his dissaiff. c 1560 A. Scott Poems (S.T.S.) xxxi. 24 Lufe sall him hald W{supt}in the dungeoun of dispair; Quhyle hett, quhyle cald. 1584 Hudson Du Bartas' Judith vi. 91 While vp he lifts his head, while lets it fall. 1632 J. Hayward tr. Biondi's Eromena 184 The intellect (fixing it selfe, while on one, and while on another wonder of matter and workemanship). |
† 2. a. At one time, formerly, once: = whilom 2.
| c 1000 Deor's Compl. 36 (Gr.) Ic bi me sylfum secᵹan wille, þæt ic hwile wæs Heodeninga scop. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 17 Ne do þu þin uuel on-gein uuel swa me dude hwile. a 1250 Owl & Night. 1016 Þeȝ eni god man to hom come, So wile dude sum from rome. c 1305 St. Andrew 29 in E.E.P. (1862) 99 Þe gywes while nome And slowe him as he worþie was. c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 2580 Þat god of miȝt..Hwich of marie þat mayde briȝt while tok flechs & blode. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. i. Prol. 15 Thai þat set haly þare delite Gestis or storyis for to write,..As Gwydo de Calumpna quhile. |
† b. as adj. That formerly existed, occurred, etc.; former, ‘late’: = umquhile B., whilom 2 b.
| 1399 Langl. Rich. Redeles iii. 363 Þey.. were y-dubbid of a duke ffor her while domes. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. ii. viii. 756 For honoure of his modyr qwhile. |
† 3. For a or the time, temporarily; at the same time, meanwhile. (See also therewhile.) Obs. rare.
| a 1500 Colkelbie Sow 828 (Bann. MS.), Thocht he wald preve the thrid penny quhyle hid, Quhilk for the tyme no fruct nor proffeit did. 1508 Kennedie Flyting w. Dunbar 428 Thow beggit with a pardoun in all kirkis,..And ondir nycht quhyle stall thou staggis et stirkis. c 1645 Howell Lett. i. ii. x. (1690) 110 Yours while J. Howell. |
B. conj. (or in conjunctive phr.) and prep.
1. a. while (that): during the time that. (Now expressed by while alone: cf. that conj. 7.)
Often with ellipsis before a pple. or other predicative word or phrase, e.g. while walking, while at rest, while an infant.
| 1154 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1137 Ðet lastede þa .xix. wintre wile Stephne was king. c 1200 Ormin 2393 Whil þatt ȝho wass Wiþþ hire kinn att hame. c 1275 Lay. 14873 Þat we solle hatie wile þat we libbeþ [c 1205 þa while þa we luuien]. 13.. Cursor M. 6088 (Gött.) Ne hones noght quile ȝe er etand. c 1350 Will. Palerne 2537 While men hunted after hem þai han a-wai schaped. c 1400 Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton) ii. lvii. (1859) 55 While that thou and I were coupled to geders, thou madest me to lede a ful vnthryfty lyf. 1513 Douglas æneis i. v. 71 Quhill that of Troy and Ilion stude the ring. 1599 Shakes. Hen. V, i. ii. 178 While that the Armed hand doth fight abroad, Th' aduised head defends it selfe at home. 1611 Sir W. Mure Misc. Poems ii. 67 Quhil in this weak estait, all meanes I soght To be aweng'd on him. 1667 Milton P.L. iv. 977 While thus he spake, th' Angelic Squadron bright Turnd fierie red. 1779 Mirror No. 32 ¶6 While we were sitting together, talking of old stories,..John entered. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. v. I. 662 Cornish was arrested while transacting business on the Exchange. 1882 Besant All Sorts xv, While he was laughing the door opened. |
b. With special reference (a) to the extent of the time: During the whole, or until the end, of the time that; as long as (see also 2 a); (b) to the limits of the time: Within, or before the end of, the time that.
| (a) c 1230 Hali Meid. 6 He wule carie for hire..hwil ha riht luueð him. c 1300 Havelok 301 Daþeit hwo it hire yeue Euere-more hwil i liue! a 1400–50 Wars Alex. 2255 Yf it worth sall to wy whil þe world standes. 1422 Yonge tr. Secr. Secr. 161 Whyle an hooke is a yonge Spyre, hit may be wonde into a wyth. c 1430 Two Cookery-bks. 23 Wasshem..whele þey ben slepyr. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 74/2 Chylde, whyle hyt can not speke, proles. 1529 More Dyaloge i. xv. 20/1, I shall loue her y⊇ worse whyle I lyue. 1610 Shakes. Temp. iii. ii. 120 While thou liu'st keepe a good tongue in thy head. 1706 Prior Ode to Queen xix, Nought done the Hero deem'd, while ought undone remain'd. 1742 Fielding J. Andrews ii. iv, She told her ‘while there was life there was hope.’ 1848 Dickens Dombey xxxii, The confidence of this house..is not to be abused..while I have eyes and ears. |
| (b) c 1300 Havelok 363 Him for to hoslen, and forto shriue, Hwil his bodi were on liue. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. xi. 287 Whil þow art ȝong and ȝep, and þy wepne kene, Awreke þe þerwith. c 1450 Mirk's Festial 5 Wherfor, syrs,..whyll ȝe byn here, makyth amendes for your mys-dedys. c 1450 Mankind 77 in Macro Plays 4 Lett ws be mery wyll we be here! c 1550 Lyndesay Tragedie 303 Amend ȝour lyfe now, quhill ȝour day Induris. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 263 Set him betimes to School..While yet his youth is flexible and green. 1825 T. Hook Sayings Ser. ii. Passion & Princ. xi. III. 253, I wish..that to-morrow..you would step down to the Tower;..while you are there, you might just go to the London Docks. 1866 Ruskin Crown Wild Olive iii. 203 All the greatness she [sc. England] ever had,..she won while her fields were green and her faces ruddy. |
† c. Without necessarily implying duration: At the time that; when. Obs.
| a 1300 Fragm. Pop. Sci. (Wright) 62 As me mai the mone i-seo while heo is nue riȝt. c 1320 Cast. Love (ed. Hall.) 403 For in tyme whill he fre was, He hede with him bothe Merci and Pes. a 1425 Cursor M. 15461 (Trin.) Whil ȝe se me kisse him Leye hondes on him allone. 1477 Rental Bk. Cupar-Angus (1879) I. 209 We half grantyt to the forsad Paton and Jonat the tak of Rechy Jak quhel it ma vake. |
d. During which time; and meanwhile.
| c 1400 Warres of the Jewes in Warton Hist. Eng. Poetry (1774) I. x. 311 In Tyberyus tyme the trewe emperour Syr Sesar hym sulf saysed in Rome Whyle Pylot was provost under that prynce ryche. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 809 Thus have I sung of Fields, and Flocks, and Trees,..While mighty Cæsar, thund'ring from afar, Seeks on Euphrates Banks the Spoils of War. 1766 Goldsm. Vic. W. vi, Moses sate reading, while I taught the little ones. 1820 Keats Lamia i. 242 He pass'd,..while her eyes Follow'd his steps. 1905 E. Glyn Viciss. Evang. 79 Mr. Montgomerie said rather gallant things to me,..while the girls looked shocked. |
2. transf. with various connotations. a. As long as, so long as (implying ‘provided that’, ‘if only’).
| 1375 Barbour Bruce i. 60 Thar mycht succed na female, Quhill foundyn mycht be ony male. c 1400 Apol. Loll. 14 Þe kirk may not iustli priue þe comyning of cristun men, nor taking of þe sacraments..wyle he is iust. 1597 Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. xlvii. §4 Neither boldnes can make vs presume as long as we are kept vnder with the sense of our owne wretchednes; nor, while we trust in the mercie of God through Christ Iesus, feare be able to tyrannize ouer vs. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. i. I. 47 The encroachments of the ecclesiastical power..produced much more happiness than misery, while the ecclesiastical power was in the hands of the only class that had studied history. |
b. At the same time that (implying opposition or contrast); adversatively, when on the contrary or on the other hand, whereas; concessively, it being granted that; sometimes nearly = although.
| 1588 Shakes. L.L.L. i. i. 74 Painefully to poare vpon a Booke, To seeke the light of truth, while truth the while Doth falsely blinde the eye-sight of his looke. 1617 Sir W. Mure Misc. Poems xxi. 23 Whill others aime at greatnes boght with blood, Not to bee great thou stryves, bot to bee good. 1662 Stillingfl. Orig. Sacræ iii. i. §7 While they deny a Deity, they assert other things on far less reason. 1719 Watts Ps. xxiii, There would I find a settled Rest, (While others go and come). 1749 Hartley Observ. Man i. i. §2. 75 White is vulgarly thought to be the most uncompounded of all Colours, while yet it really arises from a certain Proportion of the Seven primary Colours. 1857 Buckle Civiliz. I. x. 608 While the object of the people was to free themselves from the yoke, the object of the nobles was merely to find new sources of excitement. 1864 Bryce Holy Rom. Emp. v. (1875) 52 In rude and unsettled states of society men respect forms and obey facts, while careless of rules and principles. 1908 R. Bagot A. Cuthbert vi. 51 While regretting the sorrow which had fallen upon him, Miss Cuthbert was nevertheless glad that her brother was free. |
c. In modern colourless use: At the same time that, besides that, in addition to the fact that; often = and at the same time, and besides.
| [1750 Shenstone Ode Rural Eleg. 161 There, while the seeds of future blossoms dwell, 'Tis colour'd for the sight, perfum'd to please the smell.] 1860 Löwenthal Morphy's Games Chess 165 A very good move, for while it brings the Queen into a more attacking position, it at the same time defends White's Queen's Pawn. 1904 Times 25 May 3/6 The walls..are decorated with white enamelled panelling, while the frieze and ceiling are in modelled plaster. |
3. a. († Also with that, at.) Up to the time that; till, until. Now dial. (chiefly north.).
Occas. with reference to place, etc.: † while it come to = as far as, up to.
| 13.. Seuyn Sages (W.) 1644 Dwelle thou, wil ich arisen be. 1375 Barbour Bruce iv. 763 Man is in-to dreding..of thingis to cum, quhill he Haue of the end the certante. 1419 Munim. de Melros (Bann. Club) 502 Þe qwhilkis Indentours þe forsaid Nychole has delyuerit till þe said abbot and Conuent..qwhile at þai be fullely assythit of þe said fowrty pund. c 1420 Liber Cocorum (1862) 46 Fyrst sethe þy mustuls quyl shel of lepe In water. c 1460 Battle of Otterburn liv. (Child Ball. vi. 298), They swapped together whyll that they swette. c 1480 Henryson Bludy Serk 40 To fecht with him..Quhill ane wer dungin doun. 1524 Q. Marg. in St. Papers Hen. VIII, IV. 129, I thowt best to put them both in the castel of Edynbrou, vhol that thay fynd a vay how the Bodarz may be vel reulyd. a 1578 Lindesay (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.) I. 7 Thair was nevir perfytt stabillitie quhill that the Douglas was perisch deid and gane. 1586 Marlowe 1st Pt. Tamburl. iv. iv, Faste and welcome sir, while hunger make you eat. 1589 Nashe Martin Marprel. Wks. (Grosart) I. 117 Let him swell while he burst. 1688 Bunyan Heavenly Footman (1724) 77 Run sweet Babe, while thou art weary, and then I will take thee up and carry thee. 1759 R. Brown Compl. Farmer 9 Take horse-aloes..give him the purge.., and ride him out again while he purges. 1813 Hogg Queen's Wake 81 They drank of the byshopis wyne Quhill they culde drynk ne mair. 1825 Brockett N.C. Gloss. s.v., Stay while I come back. 1872 J. Hartley's Yorksh. Ditties Ser. ii. 17 We blushed wol us faces wor all in a blaze. |
b. as prep. Up to (a time), up to the time of; till, until. Now dial. (chiefly north.).
| c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 1276 Þat þou fast noȝt whil to morne. 1464–5 in Acts Parlt. Scot. (1874) XII. 30/2 Þ{supt} þe lew be proclamit to xiij s. iiij d. fra fasterin sewyn furth next tocum and quhill thane to haue course as thai haue now. 1559 in Wodrow Soc. Misc. (1844) 268 Thay..wald not beleif me..quhill now. 1587 Greene Euphues Wks. (Grosart) VI. 251 Their commaunds were dated but while death. 1605 Shakes. Macb. iii. i. 44 While then, God be with you. 1662 W. Gurnall Chr. in Arm. iii. xxiii. §4 The Apothecary gathers his simples in Summer, which haply he may not use while Winter. 1720 Lett. Lond. Jrnl. (1721) 14 Tho' he sweat and scrub while Doomsday. 1722 in Rutland Gloss. (1891) 39, I was 2 dayes; And my Son was 2 days. And the third day wile three a Clock. 1854 A. E. Baker Northampt. Gloss. s.v., It wants a quarter while nine o'clock. |
4. while as (also occas. as one word, cf. whenas, whereas). a. = 1. Obs. or rare arch.
| 1563 Googe Eglogs etc. (Arb.) 69 Whyle as the rauenyng Wolues he prayed his gylteles lyfe to saue. 1593 Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, i. i. 225 Pirates may make cheape penyworths of their pillage,..While as the silly Owner of the goods Weepes ouer them. c 1620 Z. Boyd Zion's Flowers (1855) 138 Hee spares while as the faults of men are young. c 1690 N. Burn in Roxb. Ball. (1888) VI. 608 Burn cannot his grief asswage, whileas his dayes endureth. 1786 Har'st Rig (1801) xci, But now, whileas the show'r does last, 'Tis no thought proper they shud fast. 1812 Cary Dante, Parad. xxv. 79 Whileas I spake. 1918 W. de la Mare Motley 68 How do the days press on, and lay Their fallen locks at evening down, Whileas the stars in darkness play. |
† b. = 2 b. Obs. rare.
| 1625 Hart Anat. Ur. i. ii. 13 The chiefe..part of Physicke diagnosticke..is..neglected; while as the ordinarie sort of Physitians do onely labour to know..the nature..of the disease by the..indication of the..vrine. 1646 R. Baillie Anabaptism (1647) 98 To Christ they give but one nature, while as all Divines since his Incarnation give him two. |
C. Combinations: † while-being a. temporary, or temporal (rare); while-ever (whilever) conj. [see ever adv. 8 e; for the abbreviated spelling cf. wherever], as long as (rare); while-you-wait adj. or advb. phr. (orig. U.S.), designating a service that is performed immediately (as opp. to one for which the customer must leave his property and collect it later); also fig.; also absol. as n., an establishment providing such a service; freq. (in advertisements) spelt while-u-wait.
| 1674 N. Fairfax Bulk & Selv. 40 This time-lasting World, and every while-being thing in it. 1776 Ann. Reg., Hist. Eur. 73/1 He solemnly declared, that while-ever he sate in that house, he would not endure such language. 1878 Jas. Thomson Plenipotent. Key 19 She had had her husbands five, And would have more whilever she was alive. 1929 Amer. Speech V. 24 Those who are selling ‘service’ are fond of using expressions of this sort:..Shine While U Wait, Hats Cleaned While U Wait, [etc.]. 1936 Mencken Amer. Lang. (ed. 4) 209 Q-room.., While-U-wait, and Bar-B-Q.., all of them familiar signs. 1965 H. Gold Man who was not with It xxix. 271 We were at a low office block.., shoe repair and while-you-wait. 1972 Guardian 11 July 10/6 The..catalogue essay..is a masterpiece of myth-making, art history while-u-wait. 1972 Times 9 Aug. 12/7 (caption) A while-you-wait parts replacement service. 1977 Evening Gaz. (Middlesbrough) 11 Jan. 13/2 (Advt.), M.O.T. test while-u-wait. |
▪ III. while, v.
[f. while n.
A new formation, having no continuity with early ME. i-hwulen to have leisure, or connexion with the continental forms OHG. wîlôn (MHG. wîlen, G. weilen to stay, linger), ON. hv{iacu}la (Sw. hvila, Da. hvile) to rest, Goth. hveilan to pause, cease (cf. while n. etym.).]
† 1. trans. To occupy or engage (a person) for a time, or for the time; to fill up the time of. Obs.
| 1606 Bp. Hall Medit. & Vows i. §88 Hee findes not-any worthy employment to while himselfe withall. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage vii. xi. 592 The..still Lakes, thicke Woods, and varietie of the Continent-obseruations, haue thus long whiled vs. a 1659 Osborn Misc. Pref. B 8, The First Cause of their projection, being rather, for the intent to While my Selfe, then Busie others. |
† 2. with it: To keep it up, ‘stick it out’. Obs.
| a 1617 Bayne Lect. (1634) 137 They are poore, not brought up to it, not able to while it, wife and children might begge, [etc.]. |
3. To cause (time) to pass without wearisomeness; to pass or get through (a vacant time), esp. by some idle or trivial occupation. Also, to divert the attention from, ‘beguile’ (sorrow, pain). Usually, now almost always, with away.
Possibly developed from sense 1 by transference of the object from the person to the time. Association with such phr. as beguile the day, the time (Shakes.), L. diem decipere, F. tromper le temps, has led to the substitution of wile v. by some modern writers.
| 1635 Quarles Embl. iii. xiii. 34 Nor do I beg this slender inch, to while The time away, or falsly to beguile My thoughts with joy. a 1644 ― Sol. Recant. solil. ii. 36 And like a pain-afflicted stripling, play With some new Toy, to while thy grief away. 1706 Bragge Disc. Parables (ed. 3) I. i. 17 Those..who frequent our Religious Assemblies..to while away the Time that lies useless upon their Hands. 1726 Pope Let. to Bethel 9 Aug., Let us while away this life; and (if we can) meet in another. 1769 Wesley Wks. (1872) XII. 374 There will be a danger likewise of whiling away time. 1796 F. Burney Camilla x. iii, Such dangerous expedients to while away chagrin. a 1800 Pegge Anecd. Engl. Lang. (1814) 229 To while away so much time in perusing this Disquisition. 1807 W. Irving Salmag. No. 13 (1811) II. 75 These moments of mental gloom, whiled away by the cheerful exercise of our pen. 1809 Malkin Gil Blas xii. viii. (Rtldg.) 434 A delightful residence, where he whiled away three weeks. 1813 Byron Corsair i. xiv, Then shall my handmaids while the time along. 1840 Dickens Old C. Shop ix, When she left her own little room to while away the tedious hours. 1882 Mrs. Raven's Temptation I. 5 There was nothing for the young traveller to while the time with. |
b. intr. Of time: To pass tediously. Now dial.
| 1712 [see whiling ppl. a.]. 1898 Hardy Wessex Poems 106 All that year and the next year whiled, And I still went thitherward. |
† 4. while off: to put (a person) off for the time.
| 1646 Lockyer Serm. 31 If you cast them off too, when they have cast off all for you, or if you shall while them off, when they tell you, Sir, this is our last meale in the barrell [etc.]. |
▪ IV. while
obs. f. wheel, wile.