while.html - 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.

while.html - {adv.} At a time several minutes in the past; a few minutes ago; a short time ago. - Used with "a". * /I laid mv glasses on this table a while ago; and now they're gone./ * /A while ago, Mary was tired and wanted to go home; now she's dancing with Bob as if she could dance all night./ Compare: JUST NOW(2).

while.html - {v.} To make time go by pleasantly or without being bored; pass or spend. * /We whiled away the time that we were waiting by talking and playing cards./ * /We whiled away the summer swimming and fishing./

while.html - {adv.} At a time several weeks or months in the past. - Used with "a". * /We had a good rain a while back, but we need more now./ * /Grandfather is well now, but a while back he was in the hospital for three weeks./ See: CRACK THE WHIP.

while.html - n.,
conj., v., & adv. --n.

1 a space of time, time spent in some action (a long while ago; waited a while; all this while).
2 (prec. by the) a during some other process. b poet. during the time that.
3 (prec. by a) for some time (have not seen you a while).

--conj.

1 during the time that; for as long as; at the same time as (while I was away, the house was burgled; fell asleep while reading).
2 in spite of the fact that; although, whereas (while I want to believe it, I cannot).
3 N.Engl. until (wait while Monday).

--v.

tr. (foll. by away) pass (time etc.) in a leisurely or interesting manner. --rel.adv. (prec. by time etc.) during which (the summer while I was abroad).

all the while during the whole time (that). for a long while for a long time past. for a while for some time. a good (or great) while a considerable time. in a while (or little while) soon, shortly. worth while (or one's while) worth the time or effort spent. [OE hwil f. Gmc: (conj.) abbr. of OE tha hwile the, ME the while that]

while.html - conj.
archaic = WHILE. [orig. in the adverbs somewhiles, otherwhiles]