Difference between revisions of "While - wile"
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* '''while''' is a [[conjunction]], which mostly means 'during the time that', but can also be used to mean 'although'. While this page is interesting, you may also want to see [[while - whilst]]. | * '''while''' is a [[conjunction]], which mostly means 'during the time that', but can also be used to mean 'although'. While this page is interesting, you may also want to see [[while - whilst]]. | ||
| − | * There is also a [[phrasal verb]] 'while away', which means to pass time pleasantly: you can while away the hours reading in the garden. | + | ** There is also a [[phrasal verb]] 'while away', which means to pass time pleasantly: you can while away the hours reading in the garden. '''Never''' be tempted by the plausible meaning 'to trick the time into passing more pleasantly' to spell this as '<s>wile</s> away the time': to do so is incorrect. |
* '''wile''' is a [[noun]], meaning craftiness or cunning. The related [[adjective]] is 'wily'. Think of Road Runner's cartoon nemesis, Wile E. Coyote [~'wily coyote']. | * '''wile''' is a [[noun]], meaning craftiness or cunning. The related [[adjective]] is 'wily'. Think of Road Runner's cartoon nemesis, Wile E. Coyote [~'wily coyote']. | ||
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| + | ::You may also want to see [[guile - wile]]. | ||
Latest revision as of 23:42, 29 September 2010
While and wile are two homophones in the mouths of most English people (see w - wh.)
- while is a conjunction, which mostly means 'during the time that', but can also be used to mean 'although'. While this page is interesting, you may also want to see while - whilst.
- There is also a phrasal verb 'while away', which means to pass time pleasantly: you can while away the hours reading in the garden. Never be tempted by the plausible meaning 'to trick the time into passing more pleasantly' to spell this as '
wileaway the time': to do so is incorrect.
- There is also a phrasal verb 'while away', which means to pass time pleasantly: you can while away the hours reading in the garden. Never be tempted by the plausible meaning 'to trick the time into passing more pleasantly' to spell this as '
- wile is a noun, meaning craftiness or cunning. The related adjective is 'wily'. Think of Road Runner's cartoon nemesis, Wile E. Coyote [~'wily coyote'].
- You may also want to see guile - wile.
