different between albeit vs while

English

Alternative forms

• albe

Etymology

From the Middle English expression al be it (that), itself shortened from althagh it be that (“although it be that”), and thus composed from al (“completely, entirely”) +? be (3rd person singular present subjunctive of been (“to be”)) +? it.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /??l?bi?.?t/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?l?bi.?t/
  • (cot–caught merger) IPA^(key): /?l?bi.?t/

Conjunction

albeit

1. Although, despite (it) being.

Usage notes

• The word albeit historically also introduced an independent clause as although does (as in the Shakespearean quote above); however after the Early Modern English period, it ceased to do so, and today only introduces a noun phrase, adjectival phrase, adverbial phrase, or dependent clause.
• Rarely, albethey is used when the meaning is “despite (the multiple things) being” rather than “despite (the single thing) being”; this is nonstandard, based on a flawed interpretation of albeit.

Synonyms

• as much as, though; see also Thesaurus:even though

Related terms

• howbeit

Translations

Anagrams

• albite, betail, libate

Yola

Alternative forms

• abeit

Etymology

From the Middle English expression al be it (that), itself shortened from althagh it be that (“although it be that”).

Conjunction

albeit

1. unless, except.

References

• Jacob Poole (1867) , William Barnes, editor, A glossary, with some pieces of verse, of the old dialect of the English colony in the baronies of Forth and Bargy, County of Wexford, Ireland, J. Russell Smith, ?ISBN

English

Etymology

From Old English hw?l, from Proto-West Germanic *hw?lu, from Proto-Germanic *hw?l? (compare Dutch wijl, Low German Wiel, German Weile), from Proto-Indo-European *k?yeh?- (“to rest”). Cognate with Albanian sillë (“breakfast”), Latin tranquillus, Sanskrit ??? (cirá), Persian ???? (š?d).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?a?l/, /wa?l/
• (in accents without the "wine-whine" merger)
• (in accents with the "wine-whine" merger)
• Rhymes: -a?l

Noun

while (plural whiles)

1. An uncertain duration of time, a period of time.

   It’s a long while since anyone lived there, so it’s a ruin now.

Synonyms

• spell; see also Thesaurus:uncertain period

Related terms

• in a while
• once in a while
• while loop

Translations

Conjunction

while

1. During the same time that.
   • 1948, Carey McWilliams, North from Mexico / The Spanish-Speaking People of The United States, J. B. Lippincott Company, page 25,

     While De Anza was exploring the Bay of San Francisco, seeking a site for the presidio, the American colonists on the eastern seaboard, three thousand miles away, were celebrating the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
2. Although.
   • 2013 September 28, Kenan Malik, "London Is Special, but Not That Special," New York Times (retrieved 28 September 2013):

     While Britain’s recession has been deep and unforgiving, in London it has been relatively shallow.

3. (Northern England, Scotland) Until.

4. As long as.
   • 1725, Isaac Watts, Logick, or The Right Use of Reason in the Enquiry After Truth With a Variety of Rules to Guard

     Use your memory; you will sensibly experience a gradual improvement, while you take care not to load it to excess.

5. (media, public policy) Used to denote an individual experiencing racial profiling when performing a seemingly benign activity.

Usage notes

• See whilst.

Synonyms

• (during the same time that): whilst; see also Thesaurus:while
• (although): as much as; see also Thesaurus:even though
• (until): till; see also Thesaurus:until
• (as long as): provided that, providing, so long as

Translations

Preposition

while

1. (Northern England, Scotland) Until.

   • I may be conveyed into your chamber; I'll lie under your bed while midnight.

Verb

while (third-person singular simple present whiles, present participle whiling, simple past and past participle whiled)

1. (transitive) to while away the time / hours; to pass (time) idly

   Synonyms: idle, laze, lounge
2. To loiter.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Spectator to this entry?)

   Synonyms: hang around, linger

3. (transitive) To occupy or entertain (someone) in order to let time pass.

Synonyms

• (loiter): see also Thesaurus:loiter

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations