Definition of While

n.1.Space of time, or continued duration, esp. when short; a time; as, one while we thought him innocent.
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.
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.
v. t.1.To cause to pass away pleasantly or without irksomeness or disgust; to spend or pass; - usually followed by away.
[imp. & p. p. Whiled ; p. pr. & vb. n. Whiling.]
The lovely lady whiled the hours away.
- Longfellow.
v. i.1.To loiter.
conj.1.During the time that; as long as; whilst; at the same time that; as, while I write, you sleep.
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
during or at the time that.
prep.1.Until; till.
I may be conveyed into your chamber;
I'll lie under your bed while midnight.
- Beau. & Fl.


Related Words

albeit, although, amuse, as far as, as long as, at which time, beguile, bit, brighten, chronology, continuity, day, divert, duration, duree, during which time, elbow grease, enliven, entertain, exertion, fateful moment, hour, howbeit, instant, interval, juncture, kairos, lastingness, lighten, meantime, meanwhile, minute, moment, moment of truth, pains, period, point, pregnant moment, psychological moment, psychological time, season, space, space-time, span, spell, stage, stretch, tense, term, the future, the past, the present, the while, tide, time, time lag, timebinding, trouble, when, whereas, whet, whilst, wile

Search

Word:

Browse

Wheyface
Wheyish
Which
Whichever
Whidah bird
Whider
Whiff
Whiffet
Whiffing
Whiffle
Whiffler
Whiffletree
Whig
Whiggamore
Whiggarchy
Whiggery
Whiggish
Whiggishly
Whiggism
Whigling
While as
Whilere
Whiles
Whilk
Whilom
Whilst
Whim
Whim gin
Whim shaft
Whimbrel
Whimling
Whimmy
Whimper
Whimperer
Whimple
Whimsey
Whimsical
Whimsicality
Whimsically
Whimsicalness
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
© 2008 Interapple, Inc.Cover