Emily Dickinson Lexicon

WHILE, n. [Sax. hwile; Goth. hweila; G. weil; D. wyl; time, while; Dan. hvile, Sw. hvila, repose; W. çwyl, a turn, Ir. foil. See the verb.]

Time; space of time, or continued duration. He was some while in this country. One while we thought him innocent. Pausing a while, thus to herself she mus'd. – Milton. Worth while, worth the time which it requires; worth the time and pains; hence, worth the expense. It is not always worth while for a man to prosecute for small debts.