n. [ AS. hwīl; akin to OS. hwīl, hwīla, OFries. hwīle, D. wigl, G. weile, OHG. wīla, hwīla, hwīl, Icel. hvīla a bed, hvīld rest, Sw. hvila, Dan. hvile, Goth. hweila a time, and probably to L. quietus quiet, and perhaps to Gr. &unr_; the proper time of season. √20. Cf. Quiet, Whilom. ]
This mighty queen may no while endure. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]
[ Some guest that ] hath outside his welcome while,
And tells the jest without the smile. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]
I will go forth and breathe the air a while. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]
Satan . . . cast him how he might quite her while. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]
At whiles,
Powers that we dread. J. H. Newman. [ 1913 Webster ]
The while,
The whiles
Within a while,
Worth while,
v. i. To loiter. [ R. ] Spectator. [ 1913 Webster ]
conj.
Use your memory; you will sensibly experience a gradual improvement, while you take care not to overload it. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]
While as,
While that
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 ]
v. t.
The lovely lady whiled the hours away. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]
adv. [ While + ere ] A little while ago; recently; just now; erewhile. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
Helpeth me now as I did you whilere. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]
He who, with all heaven's heraldry, whilere
Entered the world. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
adv. [ See While, n., and -wards. ]
The good knight whiles humming to himself the lay of some majored troubadour. Sir. W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]
The whiles.
conj. During the time that; while. [ Archaic ] Chaucer. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]
Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him. Matt. v. 25. [ 1913 Webster ]