How Do You Spell WHILES?

Pronunciation: [wˈa͡ɪlz] (IPA)

The word "whiles" is a somewhat archaic variation of "while" and is pronounced /waɪlz/. The spelling "whiles" is used to indicate multiple instances of a duration of time, e.g. "whilst I was reading, I heard a knock on the door." Some may use "whiles" to imply a contrast between different intervals of time, such as "whiles" and "whilst" or "whiles" and "sometimes". The use of "whiles" is less common in modern language and is often replaced by "while" or "occasionally".

Meaning and Definition
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WHILES Meaning and Definition

  1. Whiles is a conjunction or adverb that is predominantly used in old or archaic English. As a conjunction, it is used to introduce a subordinate clause indicating simultaneous or ongoing actions or events. It can be considered synonymous with "while" or "during the time that." For example, "He read a book whiles I took a nap" suggests that the speaker's reading and the other person's napping occurred simultaneously.

    On the other hand, whiles can also function as an adverb, meaning "sometimes" or "occasionally." This usage is less common than its conjunction form. For instance, "He whiles away the time by playing video games" implies that the individual engages in the activity of playing video games occasionally or as a way to pass the time.

    It must be noted that the word whiles has become less popular in modern English, with "while" generally taking over its role in everyday language. However, its usage can still be found in literary works or historical texts, providing a glimpse into older linguistic structures and vocabulary.

  2. Meantime.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

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* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for WHILES

Etymology of WHILES

The word "whiles" is derived from Middle English "whilis", which was an adverb meaning "at times" or "on occasion". This Middle English word was formed from the Old English adverb "hwīlum", which had a similar meaning. "Hwīlum" is derived from the Old English noun "hwīl", meaning "time" or "while". The Old English "hwīl" can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic root "hwīlō", which has the same meaning. This root eventually evolved into various forms in different Germanic languages, leading to the Middle English "whilis" and then the modern English "whiles".

Idioms with the word WHILES

  • between whiles The idiom "between whiles" refers to the time or moments when a person is not occupied or engaged in a specific task or activity. It implies the periods in-between other activities, often used to denote doing something in short intervals or during free moments.

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