DictionaryAI

whiles

WYLZ/(h)waɪlz/

5 meanings of whiles

Practice

  1. 1
    noun
    Plural of while. Rare: people usually say times or periods instead.
    Note
  2. 2
    verb
    The form of while used in the present with he, she, it, or a singular noun such as the dog or water.

    He whiles away the long bus ride listening to music.

    She whiles the afternoon away in the garden.

    Note
  3. 3
    conjunctionarchaic
    At the same time that something else is happening.

    Whiles the bread baked, she swept the hearth and laid the table.

    for it so falls out, That what we have we prize not to the worth Whiles we enjoy it; but being lack'd and lost, Why, then we rack the value, then we find The virtue that possession would not show us Whiles it was ours.
    1598, William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”Here, whiles means at the same time that, during the time when.
    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 4
    adverbarchaicScotland
    Sometimes, but not all the time.

    Whiles she would wander down to the river all by herself.

    Man, I've diverted myself whiles with the science of the stars, and can make a shape at calculating a nativity.
    1927, John Buchan, Witch WoodHere, whiles means sometimes, but not all the time.
    Note
  2. 5
    adverbarchaicScotland
    During the time in between, while something else is happening.

    The guests gathered upstairs. Whiles, the cook prepared the feast below.

    Set the dough to rise, and whiles, clean the kitchen.

    Note

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Origin

From the word "while" plus an ending "-s" that makes adverbs.