while

/ʍaɪl/

Etymology

From Middle English whyle, from Old English hwīl, from Proto-West Germanic *hwīlu, from Proto-Germanic *hwīlō (compare Dutch wijl, Low German Wiel, German Weile, Danish and Norwegian Bokmål hvile (“rest”), Norwegian Nynorsk kvila (“rest”), Swedish vila (“rest”), Faroese and Icelandic hvíla (“rest”)) from Proto-Indo-European *kʷyeh₁- (“to rest”). Cognate with Albanian sillë (“breakfast”), Latin tranquillus, Sanskrit चिर (cirá), Persian شاد (šâd).

while means A surname. Lexicurio rates it Distinctive — a strength score of 66 out of 100.

while is pronounced /ʍaɪl/.

name

A surname.

conj

During the same time that.“He was sleeping while I was singing.”
Although.“This case, while interesting, is a bit frustrating.”
Until.“I'll wait while you've finished painting.”
As long as.“While you're at school you may live at home.”

noun

An uncertain duration of time, a period of time.“He lectured for quite a long while.”
An uncertain duration of time, a period of time.; An uncertain long period of time
An uncertain duration of time, a period of time.; an uncertain short moment

prep

Until.“I may be conveyed into your chamber; I'll lie under your bed while midnight.”

verb

To pass (time) idly.“I whiled away the hours whilst waiting for him to arrive”
To occupy or entertain (someone) in order to let time pass.“They whiled them with such answere as suted to their purposes, and long adoe was made in weaving and unweaving Penelopes web, till the Spanish Armada was upon the Coast, and the very Ordnance proclaimed in their eares a surcease from further illusions.”
To elapse, to pass.“The tedious hours whiled slowly on, 'till the succeeding afternoon, when the expected carriage made its appearance much sooner than they had promised themselves.”