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. ] 1. Space of time, or continued duration, esp. when short; a time; as, one while we thought him innocent. “All this while.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 ]

2. That which requires time; labor; pains. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Satan . . . cast him how he might quite her while. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

At whiles, at times; at intervals. [ 1913 Webster ] And so on us at whiles it falls, to claim
Powers that we dread. J. H. Newman. [ 1913 Webster ] --
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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To loiter. [ R. ] Spectator. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 take care not to overload it. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence, under which circumstances; in which case; though; whereas. [ 1913 Webster ]

While as,
While that, during or at the time that. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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 ]

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. ] 1. Meanwhile; meantime. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The good knight whiles humming to himself the lay of some majored troubadour. Sir. W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. sometimes; at times. [ Scot. ] Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

The whiles. See under While, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 ]