I. ˈhwī(-ə)l, ˈwī(-ə)l noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English hwīl; akin to Old High German hwīla 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
II. conjunction
Date: 12th century
1.
a. : during the time that
take a nap while I'm out
b. : as long as
while there's life there's hope
2.
a. : when on the other hand : whereas
easy for an expert, while it is dangerous for a novice
b. : in spite of the fact that : although
while respected, he is not liked
3. : similarly and at the same time that
while the book will be welcomed by scholars, it will make an immediate appeal to the general reader — British Book News
III. preposition
Date: 15th century
dialect British : until
IV. transitive verb
( whiled ; whil·ing )
Date: 1635
: to cause to pass especially without boredom or in a pleasant manner — usually used with away
while away the time