While (?), 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. � 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.
This mighty queen may no while endure. Chaucer.
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.
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.