n.
Pronunciation: ' hw ī (- ə )l, ' w ī (- ə )l
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English hw ī l; akin to Old High German hw ī la time, Latin quies rest, quiet
Date: before 12th century
1 : a period of time especially when short and marked by the occurrence of an action or a condition : TIME <stay here for a while >
2 : the time and effort used (as in the performance of an action) : TROUBLE <worth your while >