whilst

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We went to the movies to watch 'Body Of Lies "starring Di-Caprio and Crowe in English whilst eating olives and pepita seeds (whatever happened to Maltesers)?

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Definitions (5)

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  1. conjunction Chiefly British While.

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Examples (50)

  • The Anglo-American never leaves it off, whilst, as to the Spanish-American, it is necessary to put up notices in the churches in some places requesting people "not to spit in the house of God!" —  Mexico Its Ancient and Modern Civilisation, History, Political Conditions, Topography, Natural Resources, Industries and General Development
  • Since many works of the principal authors never having been printed at all, the compiler has to hunt after them in libraries, in convents, and in out of the way places--whilst others, having been negligently printed, have to be revised line by line. —  The International Monthly Magazine, Volume 5, No. 1, January, 1852
  • Our predecessors considered the lending of p. 322) money upon interest as an offence against the law of God, and reprobated those who so employed their capital as usurers, who had forfeited all title to the name of merciful Christians;--whilst in the present day the most scrupulous person does not hesitate, as in a matter of conscience, to depend for the means of subsistence on such a source of income. —  Henry of Monmouth, Volume 2 Memoirs of Henry the Fifth
  • With reference to Fox's arguments,--whilst every one would, on many accounts, do well to read them,--it will be immediately obvious, that "though twenty thousand were said to be expected, and a few hundreds only were found," yet that the large body of adherents who were to rendezvous in St. Giles' Field were to come from the city, and p. 386) that on the first news of the meeting of the Lollards Henry sent to order the city gates to be shut. —  Henry of Monmouth, Volume 2 Memoirs of Henry the Fifth
  • She entered on the world of spirits, where all secrets show revealed; and there she read, almost before she died--whilst yet the black curtain of eternity was gradually rising to receive her--the innocence of good Maria, and the deep-stained villany of John. —  Heart A Social Novel
 

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Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English whilest, alteration of whiles, whiles; see whiles.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. Formerly also whitest, from whiles + -t excrescent after s as in amidst, amongst, betwixt, etc.
 

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/hwaɪlst/
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