- while
- See: AFTER A WHILE or IN A WHILE, ALL THE TIME(1), EVERY NOW AND THEN or EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, ONCE IN A WHILE.
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
while
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While — While, n. [AS. hw[=i]l; akin to OS. hw[=i]l, hw[=i]la, OFries. hw[=i]le, D. wigl, G. weile, OHG. w[=i]la, hw[=i]la, hw[=i]l, Icel. hv[=i]la a bed, hv[=i]ld rest, Sw. hvila, Dan. hvile, Goth. hweila a time, and probably to L. quietus quiet, and… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
While — and whilst are conjunctions whose primary meaning is during the time that . An example is::The days were hot while we were on vacation.:I read a magazine whilst I was waiting. While and whilst can nowadays legitimately be used in the contrastive… … Wikipedia
While — 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. [1913 Webster] Use your memory; you will sensibly experience a gradual improvement, while you… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
While as — While 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. [1913 Webster] Use your memory; you will sensibly experience a gradual improvement, while… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
While — While, prep. Until; till. [Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot.] [1913 Webster] I may be conveyed into your chamber; I ll lie under your bed while midnight. Beau. & Fl. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
while — while, wile, beguile, fleet mean to pass time, especially leisure time, without being bored. One whiles or wiles away a space of time by causing it to be filled by something pleasant, diverting, or amusing {they can while away an hour very… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
While — While, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Whiled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Whiling}.] To cause to pass away pleasantly or without irksomeness or disgust; to spend or pass; usually followed by away. [1913 Webster] The lovely lady whiled the hours away. Longfellow.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
While — While, v. i. To loiter. [R.] Spectator. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
while — index ad interim, duration, period Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
while — while1 W1S1 [waıl] conj 1.) during the time that something is happening ▪ They arrived while we were having dinner. ▪ While she was asleep, thieves broke in and stole her handbag. ▪ She met Andy while working on a production of Carmen. see usage… … Dictionary of contemporary English
while — while1 [ waıl, hwaıl ] conjunction *** 1. ) at a moment during the time that something is happening: Someone called while you were out. While in Australia, she met and married Bert. She had sprained her ankle while playing tennis. 2. ) at the… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
