Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
While
While
,Noun.
1.
Space of time, or continued duration, esp. when short; a time;
“All this while.” as, one
. while
we thought him innocentShak.
This mighty queen may no
while
endure. Chaucer.
[Some guest that] hath outside his welcome
And tells the jest without the smile.
while
,And tells the jest without the smile.
Coleridge.
I will go forth and breathe the air a
while
. Longfellow.
2.
That which requires time; labor; pains.
[Obs.]
Satan . . . cast him how he might quite her
while
. Chaucer.
At whiles
, at times; at intervals.
And so on us
Powers that we dread.
– at whiles
it falls, to claimPowers that we dread.
J. H. Newman.
The while
, The whiles
in or during the time that; meantime; while.
Tennyson.
– Within a while
, in a short time; soon.
– Worth while
, worth the time which it requires; worth the time and pains; hence, worth the expense; as, it is not always worth while for a man to prosecute for small debts.
While
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Whiled
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Whiling
.] To cause to pass away pleasantly or without irksomeness or disgust; to spend or pass; – usually followed by away.
The lovely lady
whiled
the hours away. Longfellow.
While
,Verb.
I.
To loiter.
[R.]
Spectator.
While
,c
onj.
1.
During the time that; as long as; whilst; at the same time that;
“While I have time and space.” as,
. while
I write, you sleepChaucer.
Use your memory; you will sensibly experience a gradual improvement,
while
you take care not to overload it. I. Watts.
2.
Hence, under which circumstances; in which case; though; whereas.
While as
, While that
during or at the time that.
[Obs.]
While
,p
rep.
Until; till.
[Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
I may be conveyed into your chamber;
I’ll lie under your bed
I’ll lie under your bed
while
midnight. Beau. & Fl.
Webster 1828 Edition
While
WHILE
,Noun.
Pausing a while, thus to herself she musd.
Worth while, worth the time which it requires; worth the time and pains; hence, worth the expense. It is not always worth while for a man to prosecute for small debts.
WHILE
,adv.
1.
During the time that while I write, you sleep.2.
As long as.Use your memory, and you will sensibly experience a gradual improvement, while you take care not to overload it.
3.
At the same time that.WHILE
,Verb.
T.
Let us while away this life.
WHILE
,Verb.
I.
Definition 2024
while
while
English
Noun
while (plural whiles)
- An uncertain duration of time, a period of time.
- He lectured for quite a long while.
- 1857, Charles Kingsley, [Letters and Memories]:
- Do the good that's nearest Though it's dull at whiles.
Translations
uncertain duration of time, a period of time
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Conjunction
while
- During the same time that.
- He was sleeping while I was singing.
- 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 12, in Mr. Pratt's Patients:
- While the powwow was going on the big woman came back again. She was consider'ble rumpled and scratched up, but there was fire in her eye.
- 1948, Carey McWilliams, North from Mexico / The Spanish-Speaking People of The United States, J. B. Lippincott Company, page 25,
- While De Anza was exploring the Bay of San Francisco, seeking a site for the presidio, the American colonists on the eastern seaboard, three thousand miles away, were celebrating the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
- 2013 June 7, David Simpson, “Fantasy of navigation”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 188, number 26, page 36:
- Like most human activities, ballooning has sponsored heroes and hucksters and a good deal in between. For every dedicated scientist patiently recording atmospheric pressure and wind speed while shivering at high altitudes, there is a carnival barker with a bevy of pretty girls willing to dangle from a basket or parachute down to earth.
- Although.
- This case, while interesting, is a bit frustrating.
- 2013 September 28, Kenan Malik, "London Is Special, but Not That Special," New York Times (retrieved 28 September 2013):
- While Britain’s recession has been deep and unforgiving, in London it has been relatively shallow.
- (Northern England, Scotland) Until.
- I'll wait while you've finished painting.
- Beaumont and Fletcher
- I may be conveyed into your chamber; I'll lie under your bed while midnight.
- As long as.
- While you're at school you may live at home.
- I. Watts
- Use your memory; you will sensibly experience a gradual improvement, while you take care not to overload it.
Translations
during the same time that
|
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although
|
until — see until
as long as
|
|
Verb
while (third-person singular simple present whiles, present participle whiling, simple past and past participle whiled)
- (transitive) To pass (time) idly.
- Longfellow
- The lovely lady whiled the hours away.
- Longfellow
- To loiter.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Spectator to this entry?)
Derived terms
- meanwhile
- the while
- while away
Related terms
Translations
to pass time idly