Emily Dickinson Lexicon

WHIG, n.

[Ash, in his dictionary, informs us that this word is from whiggam, a term used in Scotland in driving horses; whiggamor, one who drives horses. In 1648, a party of these people marched to Edinburgh to oppose the king and the duke of Hamilton; and hence the name of whig was given to the party opposed to the court. One of a political party which had its origin in England in the seventeenth century, in the reign of Charles I. or II., when great contests existed respecting the royal prerogatives and the rights of the people. Those who supported the king in his high claims, were called tories, and the advocates of popular rights were called whigs. During the revolution in the United States, the friends and supporters of the war and the principles of the revolution, were called whigs, and those who opposed them, were called tories and royalists. Where then, when tories scarce get clear, Shalt whigs and congresses appear? M'Fingal.

WHIG, n. [Sax. hwaeg, See Whey.]

Acidulated whey, sometimes mixed with buttermilk and sweet herbs; used as a cooling beverage. [Local.]

WHIG'GAR-CHY, n.

Government by whigs. [Cant.] Swift.

WHIG'GER-Y, n.

The principles of a Whig.

WHIG'GISH, a.

Pertaining to whigs; partaking of the principles of whigs. Swift.

WHIG'GISM, n.

The principles of a Whig. Swell.

WHILE, adv.

1. During the time that. While I write, you sleep.
2. As long as. Use your memory, and you will sensibly experience a gradual improvement, while you take care not to overload it. Watts.
3. At the same time that. Pope.

WHILE, n. [Sax. hwile; Goth. hweila; G. weil; D. wyl; time, while; Dan. hvile, Sw. hvila, repose; W. cwyl, 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.

WHILE, v.t.

To loiter. Spectator.

WHILE, v.t. [W. cwylaw, to turn, to run a course, to bustle; Eth. {foreign} wade, to pass the time, to spend the dal or life, to remain; Amharic, id.; Dan. hviler, Sw. hvila, rest or repose; Ir. foillim, to stay, to rest, to tarry; G. weilen, verweilen, to abide, to stay; D. verwylen, id. Qu. the identity of these words.]

To while away, as time, in English, is to loiter; or more generally, to cause time to pass away pleasantly, without irksomeness; as, we while away time in amusements or diversions. Let us while away this life. Pope.

WHIL-ERE, adv. [while and ere.]

A little while ago. [Obs.]

WHILING, ppr.

Loitering; passing time agreeably, with out impatience or tediousness.

WHILK, n.

A shell. [See Whelk.]

WHI'LOM,

ads [Sax. hwilon.] Formerly; once; of old. [Obs.] Spencer. WHILST for while, is improper. Whiles is not used.

WHIM, n. [Ice. hwima; W. cwim, a brisk motion, a turn; cwimiaw, to move round briskly; Sp. quimera, a whim, a wild fancy, scuffle.]

1. Properly, a sudden turn or start of the mind; a freak;
2. Fancy; a capricious notion. We say, every man has his whims. [See Freak and Caprice.] All the superfluous whims relate. Swift.
3. A low wit; a cant word. Addison.

WHIM'PER, v.t. [G. wimmern.]

To cry with a low, whining, broken voice; as, a child whimpers. Locke.

WHIM'PER-ING, n. [supra.]

. A low muttering cry.

WHIM'PER-ING, ppr.

Crying with a low broken voice.

WHIM'PLED,

a word used by Shakspeare, is perhaps a mistake for whimpered. There is no such word in the English.

WHIM'SEY, n.

s as z. [from whim.] A whim; a freak; a capricious notion; as, the whimseys of poets. Men's follies, whimsies, and inconstancy. Swift.

WHIM'SI-CAL, a.

Full of whims; freakish; having odd fancies; capricious. My neighbors call me whimsical. Addison.

WHIM'SI-CAL-LY, adv. [supra.]

In a whimsical manner; freakishly.

WHIM'SI-CAL-NESS, or WHIM'SI-CAL-I-TY, n. [supra.]

Freakishness; whimsical disposition; odd temper.

WHIN, n. [In W. cwyn is a weed; L. Genista spinosa.]

Gorse; furze; a plant of the genus Ulex. Tusser. Lee.

WHIN'-AX, n. [whin and ax.]

An instrument used for extirpating whin from land. Cyc.