WHILING
Verb
whiling
present participle of while
Source: Wiktionary
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