(a) A span of time having a definite, though often unspecified, beginning and end, a temporal interval, while; (b) the period of time during which certain circumstances exist or certain conditions prevail, a term; also, a term of office; (c) in adv. constructions: a ~, a fair (long, etc.) ~, a) litel ~, litel a ~, etc., for a loosely specified period of time, for a while; hou muche ~, for how long?; no (non) ~, for no amount of time, no time at all; som-what a ~, for a considerable amount of time.

In conjunctive phrases introducing adv. clauses: (a) al) the ~ (that, the (tho) ~ the, tho ~ (that, as long ~ as, etc., during the time that, for the whole time that; (b) the ~, tho ~ the (that), al the ~ (that, for as long as; (c) al the ~ that, during the time until; (d) with prepositions: til (forto) the ~ that, up to the time that (sb. did sth., sth. happened), until.

(a) An interval of time available for profitable use; a certain amount of time at one’s disposal, leisure; haven ~; lesen al thin ~, spillen al his ~, wasten here ~, etc.; (b) a lifespan, lifetime; also, in adv. construction: al min ~, during my whole life.

(a) The span of time appropriate to some act, activity, etc.; ~ mel [see while-mel n. (a)]; (b) a span of time allotted for a particular purpose; mete ~; restinge ~; (c) the time required to do something as an indication of the expended effort; quiten hire ~, yelden (hire, me min, the thin, etc.) ~, etc., to repay one’s effort; also, compensate someone;—used iron.; ~ yeldinge; ben worthen the ~.

In adv. constructions: (a) a (litel) ~, long ~, etc., for the length of elapsed time preceding the completion of a process, the fulfillment of a condition, etc.; (b) al the mete ~, throughout the meal period; a speche ~, for the interval of time required for a conversation; on miserere (o pater-noster) ~, for the amount of time needed to recite one Psalm 50 (Lord’s Prayer).

(a) A period of the day; a morwe ~, a period of time around or before sunrise; (b) ?a period of the year marked by some agricultural activity; ~ mel [see while-mel n. (b)].

A span of time distinguished with respect to present time: (a) a god ~, a long time; on thare ~, during that time, formerly; unto this ~, up to the present time; (b) in adv. constructions: a ~, in the past, formerly; sitthe a (gret) ~, a (great) while ago.

An interval of time between the present and some change in condition or the occurrence of some event: (a) in prep. phrases: bi a litel ~, in a (litel, sete) ~, withinne a (short) ~, etc., in a short time, in good time, soon; after a wel long ~, after a while, later; (b) in adv. constructions: a (litel) ~, in a short time, shortly.

An interval of time with an unspecified end, usu. coincident with some event, condition, etc.: (a) in prep. phrases: bitwene whiles, for the ~, in that ~, pur this ~, for the time being, in the meantime; (b) in adv. constructions: that (the, thilke, tho) ~, etc., in the meantime, meanwhile, during that time.

(a) A definite span of time used to measure the duration of an action; on(es daies ~; (b) an appreciable but indefinite period of time;—used in adv. constructions: ani (som) ~, for any (some) period of time [see also som-while adv. 2.].

(a) A point in time, moment, an instant; also, a point in time when something is to happen; in combs.: ~ whippe, the interval between cracks of a whip, a brief time;—perh. with order reversed for rime [cp. whip(pe n. 2.]; honde ~ [see hond(e n. 8.(l)]; (b) in adv. constructions: arm ~, for an unhappy moment; honde (long) ~, for a moment.

(a) A point in time when something happened, a particular time marked by certain circumstances or occurrences, an occasion; also in exclamations with reduced semantic content; in thilke (on thare) ~, etc., on that occasion; at certain whiles, bi ~, on certain occasions, sometimes; (b) in adv. constructions: ani ~, at any time, on any occasion, anytime; most ~, at most times, usually; on (other) ~, at one (another) time, on one (a different) occasion; that (tho) ~, that ilke ~, at that time, on that occasion; other ~, q.v.; som ~ [see som-while adv. 1.(a) & (b)]; (c) in conjunctive phrases introducing adv. clauses: the ~, tho ~ the, at the time that, when; (d) in correl. constructions: for on ~…for on other, o ~…on other ~, on ~…on other ~ (time), at one time…at another; with conjunctive phrase as 1st element: the ~…thanne, the ~ the…tho, tho ~ the…thanne (tho), tho ~ tho…tho (~, during the time that…then.

In misc. phrases: bi ~, in (one’s turn); bi whiles, alternately, in rotation; in (their) turns.

(a) An office, a duty; (b) an ordering, a rank, division; bi (the, theire) whiles.

Fate, lot, fortune; sorwen ~, to be sorry for (someone’s) lot.