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While   /waɪl/  /hwaɪl/   Listen
conjunction
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." "Use your memory; you will sensibly experience a gradual improvement, while you take care not to overload it."
2.
Hence, under which circumstances; in which case; though; whereas.
While as, While that, during or at the time that. (Obs.)



noun
While  n.  
1.
Space of time, or continued duration, esp. when short; a time; as, one while we thought him innocent. "All this while." "This mighty queen may no while endure." "(Some guest that) hath outside his welcome while, And tells the jest without the smile." "I will go forth and breathe the air a while."
2.
That which requires time; labor; pains. (Obs.) "Satan... cast him how he might quite her while."
At whiles, at times; at intervals. "And so on us at whiles it falls, to claim Powers that we dread."
The while, The whiles, in or during the time that; meantime; while.
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.



verb
While  v. t.  (past & past part. whiled; pres. part. 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."



While  v. i.  To loiter. (R.)



preposition
While  prep.  Until; till. (Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot.) "I may be conveyed into your chamber; I'll lie under your bed while midnight."






Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48








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"While" Quotes from Famous Books



... apartment, and approached a window looking upon the gardens, she discovered that a bridge which she had caused to be constructed for the purpose of reaching them without being compelled to traverse the galleries of the palace, was already in process of demolition; while she was also made aware that every other avenue leading to her apartments was strictly guarded, and thus she saw herself a prisoner in her own palace and entirely at the mercy of her son's advisers. Even yet ...
— The Life of Marie de Medicis, Vol. 2 (of 3) • Julia Pardoe

... locked up, and three radiant Sturgises walked the warm, white ribbon of Winterbottom Road to the Dutchman. Kirk was allowed to steer the boat, under constant orders from Ken, who compared the wake to an inebriated corkscrew. He also caught a fish over the stern, while Ken was loading up at Bayside. Then, to crown the day's delight, under the door at Applegate, when they returned, was thrust a silver-edged note from the Maestro, inviting them all to supper at his house, in ...
— The Happy Venture • Edith Ballinger Price

... unconcerned as if nothing had happened. I think, however, he had not much to brag of having out-dissembled me: for I kept up, nobly, the character of our sex for art, and went up to him with the same open air of frankness as I had ever received him. He stayed but a little while, made some excuse for not being able to stay the evening with me, and ...
— Memoirs Of Fanny Hill - A New and Genuine Edition from the Original Text (London, 1749) • John Cleland

... a rogue, for example, a company-monger, Grows fat on the gain of the shares he has sold, While the public gets lean, winning nothing but hunger And a few scraps of scrip for its masses of gold; When the fat man goes further and takes to religion, A rascal in hymn-books and Bibles disguised, "It's a case," says Sir Henry, ...
— The Reminiscences Of Sir Henry Hawkins (Baron Brampton) • Henry Hawkins Brampton

... upon the arms of the legions without any regard to their lives. Therefore as soon as the army was beheld at a distance, and the music of the trumpeters was heard, the banditti halted and stood still for a while, brandishing their threatening swords, and after a time they marched on slowly. And when the steady Roman soldiery began to deploy, preparing to encounter them, beating their shields with their spears (a custom which rouses the fury of the combatants, ...
— The Roman History of Ammianus Marcellinus • Ammianus Marcellinus


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