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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

While \While\, n. [AS. hw[imac]l; akin to OS. hw[imac]l,
hw[imac]la, OFries. hw[imac]le, D. wigl, G. weile, OHG.
w[imac]la, hw[imac]la, hw[imac]l, Icel. hv[imac]la a bed,
hv[imac]ld rest, Sw. hvila, Dan. hvile, Goth. hweila a time,
and probably to L. quietus quiet, and perhaps to Gr. ? the
proper time of season. [root]20. Cf. {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.
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This mighty queen may no while endure. --Chaucer.
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[Some guest that] hath outside his welcome while,
And tells the jest without the smile. --Coleridge.
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I will go forth and breathe the air a while.
--Longfellow.
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2. That which requires time; labor; pains. [Obs.]
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Satan . . . cast him how he might quite her while.
--Chaucer.
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{At whiles}, at times; at intervals.
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And so on us at whiles it falls, to claim
Powers that we dread. --J. H.
Newman.
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{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.
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While \While\, prep.
Until; till. [Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
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I may be conveyed into your chamber;
I'll lie under your bed while midnight. --Beau. & Fl.
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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.
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The lovely lady whiled the hours away. --Longfellow.
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While \While\, v. i.
To loiter. [R.] --Spectator.
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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.
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Use your memory; you will sensibly experience a
gradual improvement, while you take care not to
overload it. --I. Watts.
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2. Hence, under which circumstances; in which case; though;
whereas.
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{While as}, {While that}, during or at the time that. [Obs.]
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