while

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | 683 words | Copyright

while time (now chiefly in phr. a good, great (etc.) while, a while for a certain or some time, between whiles at intervals of time); as conj. (XII), shortening of ME. þe while pat, in OE. þā hwĩle þe during the time that. OE. hwĩl = OS. hwĩl(a) time (Du. wijl), OHG. (h)wĩla point or period of time (G. weile), ON. (h)vĩla bed, Goth. hweila time:- Gmc. *χwĩlõ.
So whilom †at times OE.; (arch.) at some time past XII. OE. hwĩlum (d. pl. of hwĩl). whilst alt., with parasitic t (as in amidst, amongst), of †whiles, formed with adv. -s on the sb. and used finally (XIII) as conj. like while.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

T. F. HOAD. "while." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "while." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-while.html

T. F. HOAD. "while." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-while.html

Learn more about citation styles