Emily Dickinson Lexicon

while, conj. [OE hwíle < abbr. þá hwíle þe, during the time that; see while, n.] (webplay: during, experience, life, pains, pass, pleasantly, rest, remain, sleep, thought, time, worth).

1. When; [indicating a former state of existence.]
2. As long as; [for the duration of a specified amount of time.]
3. And at the same time; [a juxtaposition of similar ideas; the two things associated by the conjunction are being compared.]
4. But at the same time; [a juxtaposition of opposite ideas; the two things associated by the conjunction are being contrasted.]
5. Because of which; [indicates a cause-and-effect relationship.]
6. Because; [indicates a causal relationship.]
7. At the time; during the period of time; [the two things conjoined by the conjunction have a temporal relation to each other.]
8. Although; whereas.