Search the Dictionary

Webster’s Dictionary (1828)

98,828 entries. Headwords are matched first, then definition text.

543 words match “WHILE”

WHILE n. 7 definitions

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. Chaucer. [Some guest that] hath outside his welcome while, And tells the jest without the smile. Coleridge. I will go forth and breathe the air a while. Lo…

A little while ago; recently; just now; erewhile. [Obs.] Helpeth me now as I did you whilere. Chaucer. He who, with all heaven's heraldry, whilere Entered the world. Milton.

WHILES adv. 3 definitions

Meanwhile; meantime. [R.] The good knight whiles humming to himself the lay of some majored troubadour. Sir. W. Scott.

For a while; for some time; for a short time.

EREWHILE; EREWHILES adv.

Some time ago; a little while before; heretofore. [Archaic] I am as fair now as I was erewhile. Shak.

Till then or now; heretofore; formerly. [Archaic]

MEANTIME; MEANWHILE n. 2 definitions

The intervening time; as, in the meantime (or mean time).

OTHERWHILE; OTHERWHILES adv.

At another time, or other times; sometimes; [Archaic] Weighing otherwhiles ten pounds and more. Holland.

Once; for a time. Though, under color of shepherds, somewhile There crept in wolves, full of fraund and guile. Spenser.

THEREWHILE adv.

At that time; at the same time. [Obs.] Laud.

WAIT--WHILE n. 2 definitions

One of the Australian wattle trees (Acacia colletioides), so called from the impenetrability of the thicket which it makes.

Worth the time or effort spent. See worth while. worthy. -- worthwhileness.

To declare by acclamations. While the shouting crowd Acclaims thee king of traitors. Smollett.

To charge with a fault; to blame; to censure. Their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one another. Rom. ii. 15.

Meanwhile; temporary.

Wonder; astonishment. [Obs.] Season your admiration for a while. Shak.

Counsel; advise; information. [Archaic] And mused awhile, waking advisement takes of what had passed in sleep. Daniel.

On foot. We 'll walk afoot a while. Shak.

To salute; to greet. [Poet.] Whiles I stood rapt in the wonder of it, came missives from the king, who all-hailed me "Thane of Cawdor." Shak.

t. To amend a bill, to make some change in the details or provisions of a bill or measure while on its passage, professedly for its improvement.