no while

adverb

For no time; not for any length of time.

OriginMiddle English no while →
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Meanings

adverb

alternative nowhile

  1. For no time; not for any length of time.

    Thenne Kynge Mark hadde his ansuer / There with came Elyas and badde the Kynge yelde vp the castel / for ye maye not hold it no whyle / Sir Elyas said the kyng so wyll I yelde vp the castel yf I be not soone rescoued

    1485, Sir Thomas Malory, “xxviij”, in Le Morte Darthur, book X

Origin

  1. Middle Englishno while
  2. Englishno while

From Middle English no while, equivalent to no (determiner) + while (noun).

More words from Middle English

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

no while. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/no%20while

MLA

“no while.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/no%20while. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “no while,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/no%20while.

Source: no while on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.