WHILES

Etymology

Adverb

whiles (not comparable)

(archaic or Scotland) sometimes; at times

(archaic or Scotland) meanwhile

Conjunction

whiles

(archaic or dialect) while

Noun

whiles

plural of while

Verb

whiles

Third-person singular simple present indicative form of while

Source: Wiktionary

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Whiles, adv. Etym: [See While, n., and -wards.]

1. Meanwhile; meantime. [R.] The good knight whiles humming to himself the lay of some majored troubadour. Sir. W. Scott.

2. sometimes; at times. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott. The whiles. See under While, n.

Whiles, conj.

Definition: During the time that; while. [Archaic] Chaucer. Fuller. Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him. Matt. v. 25.

WHILE

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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