Webster's Dictionary 1913

1486

While (4)

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 s...

1487

While (5)

While, prep. Until; till.I may be conveyed into your chamber;I'll lie under your bed while midnight. Beau. & Fl.

1488

Whilere

Whil′ere″ (?), adv. [While + ere] A little while ago; recently; just now; erewhile.Helpeth me now as I did you whilere. Chaucer.He who, with all heaven's heraldry, whilereEntere...

1489

Whiles

Whiles (?), adv. [See While, n., and -wards.] 1. Meanwhile; meantime.The good knight whiles humming to himself the lay of some majored troubadour. Sir. W. Scott.2. sometimes; at...

1490

Whiles (2)

Whiles, conj. During the time that; while. Chaucer. Fuller.Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him. Matt. v. 25.

1491

Whilk

Whilk (?), n. [See Whelk a mollusk.]1. (Zoöl.) A kind of mollusk, a whelk.2. (Zoöl.) The scoter.

1492

Whilk (2)

Whilk, pron. Which.☞ Whilk is sometimes used in Chaucer to represent the Northern dialect.

1493

Whilom

Whi″lom (hwī″lŭm), adv. [AS. hwīlum, properly, at times, dative pl. of hwīl; akin to G. weiland formerly, OHG. hwīlōm, See While, n.] Formerly; once; of old; erewhile; at times....

1494

Whilst

Whilst (?), adv. [From Whiles; cf. Amongst.] While.Whilst the emperor lay at Antioch. Gibbon.The whilst, in the meantime; while. Shak.

1495

Whim

Whim (?), n. [Cf. Whimbrel.] (Zoöl.) The European widgeon.

1496

Whim (2)

Whim, n. [Cf. Icel. hwima to wander with the eyes, vim giddiness, Norw. kvima to whisk or flutter about, to trifle, Dan. vimse to skip, whisk, jump from one thing to another, di...

1497

Whim (3)

Whim, v. i. To be subject to, or indulge in, whims; to be whimsical, giddy, or freakish. Congreve.

1498

Whimbrel

Whim″brel (?), n. [Cf. Whimper.] (Zoöl) Any one of several species of small curlews, especially the European species (Numenius phæopus), called also Jack curlew, half curlew, st...

1499

Whimling

Whim″ling (?), n. [Whim + -ling.] One given to whims; hence, a weak, childish person; a child.Go, whimling, and fetch two or three grating loaves. Beau. & Fl.

1500

Whimmy

Whim″my (?), a. Full of whims; whimsical.The study of Rabbinical literature either finds a man whimmy or makes him so. Coleridge.

1501

Whimper

Whim″per (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p.Whimpered (?); p. pr. & vb. n.Whimpering.] [Cf. Scot. whimmer, G. wimmern.] To cry with a low, whining, broken voice; to whine; to complain; as,...

1502

Whimper (2)

Whim″per, v. t. To utter in alow, whining tone.

1503

Whimper (3)

Whim″per, n. A low, whining, broken cry; a low, whining sound, expressive of complaint or grief.

1504

Whimperer

Whim″per‐er (?), n. One who whimpers.

1505

Whimple

Whim″ple (?), v. t. See Wimple.

1506

Whimple (2)

Whim″ple, v. i. [Cf. Whiffle.] To whiffle; to veer.

1507

Whimsey

{ Whim″sey, Whimsy } (?), n.; pl.Whimseys (#) or Whimsies (#). [See Whim.]1. A whim; a freak; a capricious notion, a fanciful or odd conceit. “The whimsies of poets and painters...

1508

Whimsey (2)

Whim″sey, v. t. To fill with whimseys, or whims; to make fantastic; to craze.To have a man's brain whimsied with his wealth. J. Fletcher.

1509

Whimsical

Whim″si‐cal (?), a. [From Whimsey.]1. Full of, or characterized by, whims; actuated by a whim; having peculiar notions; queer; strange; freakish. “A whimsical insult.” Macaulay....

1510

Whimsicality

Whim′si‐cal″i‐ty (?), n. The quality or state of being whimsical; whimsicalness.

1511

Whimsically

Whim″si‐cal‐ly (?), adv. In a whimsical manner; freakishly.

1512

Whimsicalness

Whim″si‐cal‐ness, n. The quality or state of being whimsical; freakishness; whimsical disposition.