WHILE

while, piece, spell, patch

(noun) a period of indeterminate length (usually short) marked by some action or condition; “he was here for a little while”; “I need to rest for a piece”; “a spell of good weather”; “a patch of bad weather”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Noun

while (plural whiles)

An uncertain duration of time, a period of time.

Synonyms

• spell; see also uncertain period

Conjunction

while

During the same time that.

Although.

(Northern England, Scotland) Until.

As long as.

(media, public policy) Used to denote an individual experiencing racial profiling when performing a seemingly benign activity.

Synonyms

• (during the same time that): whilst; see also while

• (although): as much as; see also even though

• (until): till; see also until

• (as long as): provided that, providing, so long as

Preposition

while

(Northern England, Scotland) Until.

Verb

while (third-person singular simple present whiles, present participle whiling, simple past and past participle whiled)

(transitive) To pass (time) idly.

Synonyms: idle, laze, lounge

(transitive) To occupy or entertain (someone) in order to let time pass.

To loiter.

Synonyms: hang around, linger

Synonyms

• (loiter): see also loiter

Source: Wiktionary

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While, n. Etym: [AS. hwil; akin to OS. hwil, hwila, OFries. hwile, D. wigl, G. weile, OHG. wila, hwila, hwil, Icel. hvila a bed, hvild rest, Sw. hvila, Dan. hvile, Goth. hweila a time, and probably to L. quietus quiet, and perhaps to Gr. Quiet, Whilom.]

1. Space of time, or continued duration, esp. when short; a time; as, one while we thought him innocent. "All this while." Shak. This mighty queen may no while endure. Chaucer. [Some guest that] hath outside his welcome 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 at whiles it falls, to claim Powers 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, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Whiled; p. pr. & vb. n. Whiling.]

Definition: 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, v. i.

Definition: To loiter. [R.] Spectator.

While, conj.

1. During the time that; as long as; whilst; at the same time that; as, while I write, you sleep. "While I have time and space." Chaucer. 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, prep.

Definition: Until; till. [Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot.] I may be conveyed into your chamber; I'll lie under your bed while midnight. Beau. & Fl.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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