While word meaning and definition

[noun] a period of indeterminate length (usually short) marked by some action or condition; "he was here for a little while"; "I need to rest for a piece"; "a spell of good weather"

\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}.] 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. --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. 2. 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.
\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. --Longfellow.
\While\, v. i. To loiter. [R.] --Spectator.
\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. --I. Watts. 2. Hence, under which circumstances; in which case; though; whereas. {While as}, {While that}, during or at the time that. [Obs.]
\While\, prep. Until; till. [Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot.] I may be conveyed into your chamber; I'll lie under your bed while midnight. --Beau. & Fl.
while (<expr>) <statement>;

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