The Collaborative International Dictionary
While \While\, n. [AS. hw[=i]l; akin to OS. hw[=i]l, hw[=i]la, OFries. hw[=i]le, D. wigl, G. weile, OHG. w[=i]la, hw[=i]la, hw[=i]l, Icel. hv[=i]la a bed, hv[=i]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.]
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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.
--Longfellow. -
That which requires time; labor; pains. [Obs.]
Satan . . . cast him how he might quite her while.
--Chaucer.At whiles, at times; at intervals.
And so on us at whiles it falls, to claim Powers that we dread.
--J. H. Newman.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.
Usage examples of "at whiles".
It would ease my care, if you would speak to me, or walk at whiles with me.
Until he spoke of this, I had not resented my duties, but when he conjured these ideas I was persuaded perhaps they were at whiles a trifle irksome, and I might enjoy a brief respite, if only for a change.
Half of it belongs to herwe saved each other's hides at whiles all along the waybut believe me, a tenth part of it, a thousandth part of it, would keep us all in luxury all our born days.
Have we not heard of thee at whiles, and of thy wanderings, ever hatching plots and mischief at a safe distance?