while

While , prep. Until; till. [Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

I may be conveyed into your chamber;
I'll lie under your bed while midnight.

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.

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.]

While , v. i. To loiter. [R.]

Spectator.

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.

The lovely lady whiled the hours away.

While (?), 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. &?; the proper time of season. √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.

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. 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.