Middle English Dictionary Entry
ọ̄̆ther-whīle adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | ọ̄̆ther-whīle adv. Also -whil, -wile, odurwhile, othirwhiele, (by anal. with outher) outherwhile & (N or NWM) otherquile, odir- & (SW or SWM) otherwule, (early) -hwule, othurȝwile & (K) otherhuil & (early) otherhwile, -hwille, (pl. dat.) -hylum & (error) oyerwhile. |
| Etymology | OE ōþer-hwīle |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Sometimes, occasionally, at times, now and then, at one time or another; at various times; ~ among, from time to time; (b) at other times; on another occasion [sometimes difficult to distinguish from (a)]; (c) ~..~ (other-whiles), other-whiles (among, som-time, whilom)..~, amonges ~..~, sometimes..sometimes, at times..at other times, at one time..at another time; ~..som-time, sometimes..sometimes; now..~, now..now; ilome (ofte-times, often-times)..~, often..sometimes, often..other times; ~..~..~, ~..at som-time..som-time, som-while..som-while..~, etc.; (d) mistransl. of L alio modo and aliter.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1200(?OE) PDidax.(Hrl 6258b)13/1 : Þe healsgun[d]..becum [read: becumeþ] oþer hylum [L aliquando] an man þur þa awergeda adle.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)23 : Hit nis nan wundur þah mon sunegie oðer hwile unwaldes.
- a1200(?OE) Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)147 : Interdum autem uidentes aliquos affligi, fuderunt lacrimas compassionis. Oðerwile wanne hie segen men wanred þolien..þer-of hie hadden reuðe.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)15881 : Þer cheorl draf his sulȝe, i-oxned swiðe fæire, oðer while he brohte ham halue his oxen.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)89/29 : It is dieuel oðer his sande. Ðes flesces iwill halt oðer-hwile mid him.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)94/18 : Þeos inre fondunge kimeð of þe feond, of þe world, of ure flesch oðerhwile [Nero: oðerhwule].
- ?a1300(c1250) Prov.Hend.(Dgb 86)st.4 : Beo þi child þe no so dere, And hit wille ounþewes lere, Bet hit oþerwile.
- c1300 SLeg.Mich.(LdMisc 108)346 : Þilke man nas neuere I-bore þat oþur-ȝwile [Corp-C: among] ne dude sum wouȝ.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)2213 : Me may yse a bondemannes sone oþer wule kniȝt bi come.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)54/36 : Þise sceles byeþ zuo cleuiinde þet þe wyseste and þe holyist man byeþ oþerhuyl [F a la fois] becaȝt.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)111/3 : Þou sselt ete zuyþe..ase deþ þe lecherous..þet oþerhuil [Vices & V.(2): owþer-while; F aucune fois] uorzuelȝþ þane guode snode wyþ-oute chewynge.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ecclus.13.21 : As a wlf shal comunen to a lomb oþerwhile [WB(2): sum tyme], so a synnere to a riȝtwis.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2733 : He that taketh a straunge hound by the erys is outherwhile biten with the hound.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2857 : And happeth outher while that as soone is the grete man slayn as the litel man.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.7080 : His yhe nawher wole abyde, Bot loke and prie on every syde On hire and hire, as him best lyketh: And otherwhile among he syketh.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)5333 : Coueytyse cumþ oþerwhyle of gode.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)3566 : Whenne þat he bicomeþ olde..his heed bigynneþ þenne to shake, his hondes oþer while [Göt: vmquile] to quake.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)9.21 : He nis not alwey at hom among ȝow Freris; He is oþerwhile [B vr.: ouþerwhile] elliswhere to wisse þe peple.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)121 : O folez in folk, felez oþer-whyle And vnderstondes vmbestounde.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)90b/b : Þou schalt wele knowe þat euacuaciouns ben ouþer while nescessarie.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)296/28 : In so myche is þe derknesse of hem encreessid..þat oþirwhiele þei falle to defaute.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1031 : Glotons, slaw, and lecherous Þei arn oþyrwhyle amonge.
- a1450 Diseases Women(1) (Dc 37:Singer)36 : Þat ys cause þat women oþerwhyll by asyounyng.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)48/25 : Þis is noȝt onely help aȝeyns fondyngis, but clensiþ þe soule of ere done synnes, more þen doþ oþerwhile bodily penaunce.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4231 : For many liȝtis of a liȝt is liȝtid othire-quile, And ȝit þe liȝt at þam liȝtis is liȝtid as before.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)119 : J ride faire palfreyes otherwhile [F a la fois] gladliche.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)1196 : She..wept & was so hiȝe & mode That vnneth she myȝte speke, but oþer while a-mong Wordis of discomfort & hir hondis wrong.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)18b/b : Summe also departen þe coronal in to two bonys, & soþely it is oþerwhile.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)184/1 : And othir while it happeth so.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)88a : Othir while [Monson: Odyr qwyle], vbi Sumtyme.
- a1500(c1435) ?Lydg.DM(2) (Lnsd 699)218 : Ne were that myn entent Was weele dressid, thouh I othirwhile erryd, Now shuld I vttrely be shamyd.
- a1500 Chartier Quad.(2) (Rwl A.338)244/35 : As it happith othirwhile [CQ(1): som tymes] that their kyng be hurte..thanne thei..ley hym on their wynges.
- a1500 *Lanfranc CP (Wel 397)26a/18 : A postume watery comyth of to muche water..And othir whill [L aliquotiens] it is on A stede.
- a1500 Octav.(1) (Cmb Ff.2.38)128/1087 : So moche on hym sche thoght, Odur whyle on hys feyre chere And of the colour of hys lere.
- ?a1500 Henslow Recipes (Henslow)48/5 : Hit fallit so ouþer-whyle.
b
- c1225(?c1200) SWard (Bod 34)12/100 : Iþet ilke swarte þeosternesse..ha iseoð..iteilede draken..þe forswolheð ham ihal & speoweð ham..oðer hwile torendeð ham & tocheoweð ham euch greot.
- a1275(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(Trin-C B.14.39)116/433 : Wimmon weped for mod ofter þanne for eni god, &..for to wurchen hire wille; Hue weped oþer-wile wen hue þe wille biwilen.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416)34/13 : His modir bar him on hure rugge oþer on hure armes and oþir while Iosep.
- (1402) Topias (Dgb 41)p.101 : Daw, thou herdist me not grucche that ȝe went two togedir; ffor otherwhile ȝe gon three; a womman is that oon.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (StJ-C C.25)117/30 : Oþirwhile [Hrl: Alle siche turnen hem aftir dyuerse stirynges þat bihappeþ to hem..by vnpacience of wrongis þat þei suffren, eiþir of feendis or of outward dyuerse bateilis, and oþirwhilis by stirynges..of goostly enemyes].
- a1450 Treat.Horses (Sln 2584)93/111 : Farcyn..ofte-tymes..comeþ of blak blod & of humors þat renneþ with-in þe veynus, & oþer-while with-oute. And oþer-while it comeþ of grete strokes or of a wonde þat..is not heled.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)81/6 : Hanyball..had many victorious batailles agayn the Romayns, and othir while he loste.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)29/213 : If he teyn, I must tary..Bot yit other while..I shall smyte and smyle And qwite hym his mede.
c
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)57/16 : Ðe gastliche mann..lihtliche wepð oðer sobbeð, oðerhwile mid bitere teares, oðerhwille mid wel swete teares.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)94/9 : Þeos fondunge kimeð oðerwhile of godd, of mon oðerhwiles.
- c1300 SLeg.Cross (LdMisc 108)393 : Þe holie Rode..was an-hauset in septembre sethþe on þe holie rode-daiȝ; Aftur heruest he comez i-lome and oþur-ȝwyle þare-Inne.
- c1330 Orfeo (Auch)289,297 : He miȝt se..Þe king o fairy wiþ his rout..& oþer while he miȝt him se As a gret ost bi him te..& oþer while he seiȝe oþer þing.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)40/15-16 : Þe oþre byeþ þe ualse demeres þet..nimeþ þe greate yefþes, oþerhuyl of þe on, oþerhuil of þe oþren, oþerhuyl of on and of oþre.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Wisd.17.14 : Oþerwhile [WB(2): sum tyme; L aliquando] þei weren stirid hider & þider bi þe drede of þe wundres, oþerwhile [WB(2): sum tyme; L aliquando] þe lyues fayleden bi ouerleding.
- (?1387) Wimbledon Serm.(Corp-C 357)101-2/644-5 : God sendiþ oþer-wile suche sekenesse to goode men and oþer-wile to schrewis.
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)45.315/229-30 : Oþur while wesch he dissches, And oþur while he gotted fissches.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.1210 : As I mai, I speke among, And otherwhile I singe a song.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)7433 : Oþerwhile wiþ harpe, sumtyme with song, þus he serued þe kyng ful long.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)40/1,4 : Oþerwhile [L Quondam] a senewe is kutt al atwo..& þilke senewe oþirwhile is not kutt al atwo, but he is I-preicked.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)19.99 : And sum tyme he fauȝte faste & fleigh otherwhile.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)722 : Sumwhyle wyth wormez he werrez, & with wolues als, Sumwhyle wyth wodwos þat woned in þe knarrez, Boþe wyth bullez & berez & borez oþer-quyle.
- c1400 Femina (Trin-C B.14.40)93 : Chose asconfoitz est a doner Et asconfoitz a retener. Thynges oþerwhyle ys to ȝyue And oþer whyle to wyþ hold.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)103 : It is alle so to witte þat þe hare is oþer while male and oþerwhile female.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.1.118-19 : Yif thow castest thi seedes in the feeldes, thou sholdest han in mynde that the yeres ben amonges outherwhile plentevous and outherwhile bareyne.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)172b/a : Liȝte medicines maken oþer while ane escare, & þei make summe tyme none.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)137/9,14,16,18,21 : Oþirwhile I make me opin to hem by anoþir maner..Oþirwhile also in þe þridde wise..Oþirwhiele thei seeken me in preieris..Oþirwhile I am souȝt in þe wisdom of my sone..Oþirwhile þei seke me in þe mekenes of þe holy goost.
- c1425 Wycl.Concord.in Spec.43 (Roy 17.B.1)271 : Sumtyme suche wordis varyen or diuersen al oonly in oo lettre..And oþirwhile haþ þat oon a lettre more þan þat oþir.
- (1433) RParl.4.424b : As wele hym self..as his brother..had some tyme..oyerwhile ye somme of viii M marcs yerly for yeire service..oyerwhile vi M marcs, oyerwhile v M marcs, and oyerwhile iiii M marcs yerly.
- (1439) Proc.Privy C.5.358 : The said cuntre and the gouvernance therof hath be departed, so that other while thre, otherwhil foure, Kynges haan byn therin at oones.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1145 : Þai tiltin togederz, Whilom Arthure ouer and oþerwhile vndyre.
- c1450 Battlefield Gram.(Trin-C O.5.4)103 : Of what case of the posityf degre schall the comparatyf be formed? Other whyle of the genityf case and other whyle of the datyf case.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)203/27 : And other whyles Arthure was aboven and other whyle undir.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)124 : Þe kyng shall often tymes sende..his ambassatours, as well to the pope as to diuerse kynges..and oþer while he shall sende his procuratours..to the counselles generalles.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.71 : A welle..is the hede of tweyne waters..whiche be other while separate and oþerwhile commixte.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)8.187 : A knyȝhte apperede to maister Maurice in his slepe, nowe begynnynge a verse and oþer while endynge a verse.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)53b/b : He ys oþirwhile angri & coueitiþ to be chast at sum tyme, and sumtyme he makiþ grete avowis as pilgrymage and chastite.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Lamb 633)194/9 : Yef a man use that work to fulfill his concupiscens, ther is sin, othir while venyall syn and othir whill dedely syn.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)90/15 : Oftetymes it happid that thei had good fortune ayeynst them that thei assayled for rapyne, and othirwhile thei war chased and confused by their aduersaries.
- ?a1500 Henslow Recipes (Henslow)13/9 : Ȝef a man be y-smyte with his owyn bloud, þat hit be y-sprad ouer al his body, so þat hit by-comyþ oþerwhile pikelyd, and oþer-whyle hit brekyþ out on hym verilyche, take selydonye.
d
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)259b/a : And þat falleþ dyuerseliche in dyuerse manere bestes, for oþerwhile [L alio modo] in hem þat legge ayren þan in other manere of bestes.
- a1450 WBible(2) Prol.Kings (NC 66)p.2 : Bi these lettris thei writen other while [WB(1) (Bod 959): ooþerwise; L aliter] the bygynnyngis and the myddes of wordes, and in anothir maner the endis.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)3520 : Oðer wile he heold grið & oðer while me fæht him wið.
- 1379 Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy [OD col.] (Glo 19)No.1.lib.1.ca.4.fo.3v. : For othir while the vrine is thinne.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.1264 : Bot other while I grucche sore Of some thinges that sche doth, Wherof that I woll telle soth.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)5.178 : Ac other while, whan wyn cometh whan I drynke wyn et eue.
- (c1434) Drury Wks.(CmbAdd 2830)79/19 : Of what case of þe positif degre? Oþere qwile of þe genytif case and oþer qwile of þe datif cas.
- c1450 Trin-C.Accedence (Trin-C O.5.4)32/39 : Of what case of the posityf degre schall the comparatyf be formed? Other whyle of the genityf case and other whyle of the datyf case.
- a1500(?a1471) ME Chart.Leic.VB in Bateson Rec.B.Leic.1 ()153 : And for þat that it happeneth oþere while þat a man pleynethe him of an othre of a grete quantite of Det, [etc.].
Note: Additional quote(s)