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