The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
Chapter 1884
I will go forth and breathe the air a while . Longfellow.
2. That which requires time; labor; pains. [Obs.]
Satan . . . cast him how he might quite her while . Chaucer.
At whiles , at times; at intervals.
And so on us at whiles it falls, to claim Powers that we dread. J. H. Newman.
-- The while , The whiles , in or during the time that; meantime; while. Tennyson . -- Within a while , in a short time; soon. -- Worth while , worth the time which it requires; worth the time and pains; hence, worth the expense; as, it is not always worth while for a man to prosecute for small debts.
While <Xpage=1646>
While , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Whiled (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Whiling .] To cause to pass away pleasantly or without irksomeness or disgust; to spend or pass; -- usually followed by away .
The lovely lady whiled the hours away. Longfellow.
While <Xpage=1646>
While , v. i. To loiter. [R.]
Spectator.
While <Xpage=1646>
While , conj. 1. During the time that; as long as; whilst; at the same time that; as, while I write, you sleep . " While I have time and space."
Chaucer.
Use your memory; you will sensibly experience a gradual improvement, while you take care not to overload it. I. Watts.
2. Hence, under which circumstances; in which case; though; whereas.
While as , While that , during or at the time that. [Obs.]
While <Xpage=1646>
While , prep. Until; till. [Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
I may be conveyed into your chamber; I'll lie under your bed while midnight. Beau. & Fl.
Whilere <Xpage=1646>
Whil`ere" (?) , adv. [ While + ere ] A little while ago; recently; just now; erewhile. [Obs.]
Helpeth me now as I did you whilere . Chaucer.
He who, with all heaven's heraldry, whilere Entered the world. Milton.
Whiles <Xpage=1646>
Whiles (?) , adv. [See While , n. , and -wards .] 1. Meanwhile; meantime. [R.]
The good knight whiles humming to himself the lay of some majored troubadour. Sir. W. Scott.
2. sometimes; at times. [Scot.]
Sir W. Scott.
The whiles . See under While , n.
Whiles <Xpage=1646>
Whiles , conj. During the time that; while. [Archaic]
Chaucer. Fuller.
Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him. Matt. v. 25.
Whilk <Xpage=1646>
Whilk (?) , n. [See Whelk a mollusk.]
1. (Zo\'94l.) A kind of mollusk, a whelk. [Prov. Eng.]
2. (Zo\'94l.) The scoter. [Prov. Eng.]
Whilk <Xpage=1646>
Whilk , pron. Which. [Obs. or Scot.]
&hand; Whilk is sometimes used in Chaucer to represent the Northern dialect.
Whilom <Xpage=1646>
Whi"lom (?) , adv. [AS. hw\'c6lum , properly, at times, dative pl. of hw\'c6l ; akin to G. weiland formerly, OHG. hw\'c6l <?/ m , See While , n. ] Formerly; once; of old; erewhile; at times. [Obs. or Poetic]
Spenser.
Whilom , as olde stories tellen us, There was a duke that highte Theseus. Chaucer.
Whilst <Xpage=1646>
Whilst (?) , adv. [From Whiles ; cf. Amongst .] While. [Archaic]
Whilst the emperor lay at Antioch. Gibbon.
The whilst , in the meantime; while. [Archaic.]
Shak.
Whim <Xpage=1646>
Whim (?) , n. [Cf. Whimbrel .] (Zo\'94l.) The European widgeon. [Prov. Eng.]
Whim <Xpage=1646>
Whim , n. [Cf. Icel. hwima to wander with the eyes, vim giddiness, Norw. kvima to whisk or flutter about, to trifle, Dan. vimse to skip, whisk, jump from one thing to another, dial. Sw. hvimsa to be unsteady, dizzy, W. chwimio to move briskly.]
1. A sudden turn or start of the mind; a temporary eccentricity; a freak; a fancy; a capricious notion; a humor; a caprice.
Let every man enjoy his whim . Churchill.
2. (Mining) A large capstan or vertical drum turned by horse power or steam power, for raising ore or water, etc., from mines, or for other purposes; -- called also whim gin , and whimsey .
Whim gin (Mining) , a whim. See Whim , 2. -- Whim shaft (Mining) , a shaft through which ore, water, etc., is raised from a mine by means of a whim.
Syn. -- Freak; caprice; whimsey; fancy. -- Whim , Freak , Caprice . Freak denotes an impulsive, inconsiderate change of mind, as by a child or a lunatic. Whim is a mental eccentricity due to peculiar processes or habits of thought. Caprice is closely allied in meaning to freak , but implies more definitely a quality of willfulness or wantonness.
Whim <Xpage=1646>
Whim , v. i. To be subject to, or indulge in, whims; to be whimsical, giddy, or freakish. [R.]
Congreve.
Whimbrel <Xpage=1646>
Whim"brel (?) , n. [Cf. Whimper .] (Zo\'94l) Any one of several species of small curlews, especially the European species ( Numenius ph\'91opus ), called also Jack curlew , half curlew , stone curlew , and tang whaup . See Illustration in Appendix .
Hudsonian or, Eskimo , whimbreal , the Hudsonian curlew.
Whimling <Xpage=1646>
Whim"ling (?) , n. [ Whim + -ling .] One given to whims; hence, a weak, childish person; a child.
Go, whimling , and fetch two or three grating loaves. Beau. & Fl.
Whimmy <Xpage=1646>
Whim"my (?) , a. Full of whims; whimsical.
The study of Rabbinical literature either finds a man whimmy or makes him so. Coleridge.
Whimper <Xpage=1646>
Whim"per (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Whimpered (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Whimpering .] [Cf. Scot. whimmer , G. wimmern .] To cry with a low, whining, broken voice; to whine; to complain; as, a child whimpers .
Was there ever yet preacher but there were gainsayers that spurned, that winced, that whimpered against him? Latimer.
Whimper <Xpage=1646>
Whim"per , v. t. To utter in alow, whining tone.
Whimper <Xpage=1646>
Whim"per , n. A low, whining, broken cry; a low, whining sound, expressive of complaint or grief.
Whimperer <Xpage=1646>
Whim"per*er (?) , n. One who whimpers.
Whimple <Xpage=1646>
Whim"ple (?) , v. t. See Wimple .
Whimple <Xpage=1646>
Whim"ple , v. i. [Cf. Whiffle .] To whiffle; to veer.
Whimsey, Whimsy <Xpage=1646>
Whim"sey , Whimsy (?) , n. ; pl. Whimseys (#) or Whimsies (#) . [See Whim .]
1. A whim; a freak; a capricious notion, a fanciful or odd conceit. "The whimsies of poets and painters."
Ray.
Men's folly, whimsies , and inconstancy. Swift.
Mistaking the whimseys of a feverish brain for the calm revelation of truth. Bancroft.
2. (Mining) A whim.
Whimsey <Xpage=1646>
Whim"sey , v. t. To fill with whimseys, or whims; to make fantastic; to craze. [R.]
To have a man's brain whimsied with his wealth. J. Fletcher.
Whimsical <Xpage=1646>
Whim"si*cal (?) , a. [From Whimsey .]
1. Full of, or characterized by, whims; actuated by a whim; having peculiar notions; queer; strange; freakish. "A whimsical insult."
Macaulay.
My neighbors call me whimsical . Addison.
2. Odd or fantastic in appearance; quaintly devised; fantastic. "A whimsical chair."
Evelyn.
Syn. -- Quaint; capricious; fanciful; fantastic.
Whimsicality <Xpage=1646>
Whim`si*cal"i*ty (?) , n. The quality or state of being whimsical; whimsicalness.
Whimsically <Xpage=1646>
Whim"si*cal*ly (?) , adv. In a whimsical manner; freakishly.
Whimsicalness <Xpage=1646>
Whim"si*cal*ness , n. The quality or state of being whimsical; freakishness; whimsical disposition.
Whimsy <Xpage=1646>
Whim"sy (?) , n. A whimsey.
Whimwham <Xpage=1646>
Whim"wham (?) , n. [Formed from whim by reduplication.]
1. A whimsical thing; an odd device; a trifle; a trinket; a gimcrack. [R.]
They'll pull ye all to pieces for your whimwhams . Bear. & Fl.
2. A whim, or whimsey; a freak.
Whin <Xpage=1646>
Whin (?) , n. [W. chwyn weeds, a single weed.]
1. (Bot.) (a) Gorse; furze. See Furze .
Through the whins , and by the cairn. Burns.
(b) Woad-waxed.
Gray.
2. Same as Whinstone . [Prov. Eng.]
Moor whin ∨ Petty whin (Bot.) , a low prickly shrub ( Genista Anglica ) common in Western Europe. -- Whin bruiser , a machine for cutting and bruising whin, or furze, to feed cattle on. -- Whin Sparrow (Zo\'94l.) , the hedge sparrow. [Prov. Eng.] -- Whin Thrush (Zo\'94l.) , the redwing. [Prov. Eng.]
Whinberry <Xpage=1646>
Whin"ber*ry (?) , n. (Bot.) The English bilberry; -- so called because it grows on moors among the whins, or furze.
Dr. Prior.
Whinchat <Xpage=1646>
Whin"chat` (?) , n. [So called because it frequents whins .] (Zo\'94l.) A small warbler ( Pratincola rubetra ) common in Europe; -- called also whinchacker , whincheck , whin-clocharet .
Whine <Xpage=1646>
Whine (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Whined (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Whining .] [OE. whinen , AS. hw\'c6nan to make a whistling, whizzing sound; akin to Icel. hv\'c6na , Sw. hvina , Dan. hvine , and probably to G. wiehern to neigh, OHG. wih <?/ n , hweij <?/ n ; perhaps of imitative origin. Cf. Whinny , v. i. ] To utter a plaintive cry, as some animals; to mean with a childish noise; to complain, or to tell of sorrow, distress, or the like, in a plaintive, nasal tone; hence, to complain or to beg in a mean, unmanly way; to moan basely. " Whining plovers."
Spenser.
The hounds were . . . staying their coming, but with a whining accent, craving liberty. Sir P. Sidney.
Dost thou come here to whine ? Shak.
Whine <Xpage=1646>
Whine , v. t. To utter or express plaintively, or in a mean, unmanly way; as, to whine out an excuse .
Whine <Xpage=1646>
Whine , n. A plaintive tone; the nasal, childish tone of mean complaint; mean or affected complaint.
Whiner <Xpage=1646>
Whin"er (?) , n. One who, or that which, whines.
Whinge <Xpage=1646>
Whinge (?) , v. i. To whine. [Scot.]
Burns.
Whinger <Xpage=1646>
Whing"er , n. [See Whinyard .] A kind of hanger or sword used as a knife at meals and as a weapon. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]
The chief acknowledged that he had corrected her with his whinger . Sir W. Scott.
Whiningly <Xpage=1646>
Whin"ing*ly (?) , adv. In a whining manner; in a tone of mean complaint.
Whinner <Xpage=1646>
Whin"ner (?) , v. i. To whinny. [Colloq.]
Whinny <Xpage=1646>
Whin"ny (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Whinnied (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Whinnying .] [From Whine ] To utter the ordinary call or cry of a horse; to neigh.
Whinny <Xpage=1646>
Whin"ny , n. ; pl. Whinnies (<?/) . The ordinary cry or call of a horse; a neigh. "The stately horse . . . stooped with a low whinny ."
Tennyson.
Whinny <Xpage=1646>
Whin"ny , a. Abounding in whin, gorse, or furze.
A fine, large, whinny , . . . unimproved common. Sterne.
Whinock <Xpage=1646>
Whin"ock (?) , n. [Cf. Scot. whin , quhene , a few, AS. hw<?/ne , hw <?/ ne , a little, hw <?/ n little, few. Cf. Wheen .] The small pig of a litter. [Local, U. S.]
Whinstone <Xpage=1646>
Whin"stone" (?) , n. [ Whin + stone ; cf. Scot. quhynstane .] A provincial name given in England to basaltic rocks, and applied by miners to other kind of dark-colored unstratified rocks which resist the point of the pick. -- for example, to masses of chert. Whin-dikes , and whin-sills , are names sometimes given to veins or beds of basalt.
Whinyard <Xpage=1646>
Whin"yard (?) , n. [Cf. Prov. E. & Scot. whingar , whinger ; perhaps from AS. winn contention, war + geard , gyrd , a staff, rod, yard; or cf. AS. hw\'c6nan to whistle, E. whine .]
1. A sword, or hanger. [Obs.]
2. [From the shape of the bill.] (Zo\'94l) (a) The shoveler. [Prov. Eng.] (b) The poachard. [Prov. Eng.]
Whip <Xpage=1646>
Whip (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Whipped (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Whipping .] [OE. whippen to overlay, as a cord, with other cords, probably akin to G. & D. wippen to shake, to move up and down, Sw. vippa , Dan. vippe to swing to and fro, to shake, to toss up, and L. vibrare to shake. Cf. Vibrate .]
1. To strike with a lash, a cord, a rod, or anything slender and lithe; to lash; to beat; as, to whip a horse, or a carpet .
2. To drive with lashes or strokes of a whip; to cause to rotate by lashing with a cord; as, to whip a top .
3. To punish with a whip, scourge, or rod; to flog; to beat; as, to whip a vagrant; to whip one with thirty nine lashes; to whip a perverse boy .
Who, for false quantities, was whipped at school. Dryden.
4. To apply that which hurts keenly to; to lash, as with sarcasm, abuse, or the like; to apply cutting language to.
They would whip me with their fine wits. Shak.
5. To thrash; to beat out, as grain, by striking; as, to whip wheat .
6. To beat (eggs, cream, or the like) into a froth, as with a whisk, fork, or the like.
7. To conquer; to defeat, as in a contest or game; to beat; to surpass. [Slang, U. S.]
8. To overlay (a cord, rope, or the like) with other cords going round and round it; to overcast, as the edge of a seam; to wrap; -- often with about , around , or over .
Its string is firmly whipped about with small gut. Moxon.
9. To sew lightly; specifically, to form (a fabric) into gathers by loosely overcasting the rolled edge and drawing up the thread; as, to whip a ruffle .
In half- whipped muslin needles useless lie. Gay.
10. To take or move by a sudden motion; to jerk; to snatch; -- with into , out , up , off , and the like.
She, in a hurry, whips up her darling under her arm. L'Estrange.
He whips out his pocketbook every moment, and writes descriptions of everything he sees. Walpole.
11. (Naut.) (a) To hoist or purchase by means of a whip. (b) To secure the end of (a rope, or the like) from untwisting by overcasting it with small stuff.
12. To fish (a body of water) with a rod and artificial fly, the motion being that employed in using a whip.
Whipping their rough surface for a trout. Emerson.
To whip in , to drive in, or keep from scattering, as hounds in a hurt; hence, to collect, or to keep together, as member of a party, or the like. -- To whip the cat . (a) To practice extreme parsimony. [Prov. Eng.] Forby . (b) To go from house to house working by the day, as itinerant tailors and carpenters do. [Prov. & U. S.]
<page="1647"> Page 1647
Whip <Xpage=1647>
Whip (?) , v. i. To move nimbly; to start or turn suddenly and do something; to whisk; as, he whipped around the corner .
With speed from thence he whipped . Sackville.
Two friends, traveling, met a bear upon the way; the one whips up a tree, and the other throws himself flat upon the ground. L'Estrange.
Whip <Xpage=1647>
Whip , n. [OE. whippe . See Whip , v. t. ]
1. An instrument or driving horses or other animals, or for correction, consisting usually of a lash attached to a handle, or of a handle and lash so combined as to form a flexible rod. "[A] whip's lash."
Chaucer.
In his right hand he holds a whip , with which he is supposed to drive the horses of the sun. Addison.
2. A coachman; a driver of a carriage; as, a good whip .
Beaconsfield.
3. (Mach.) (a) One of the arms or frames of a windmill, on which the sails are spread. (b) The length of the arm reckoned from the shaft.
4. (Naut.) (a) A small tackle with a single rope, used to hoist light bodies. (b) The long pennant. See Pennant (a)
5. A huntsman who whips in the hounds; whipper-in.
6. (Eng. Politics) (a) A person (as a member of Parliament) appointed to enforce party discipline, and secure the attendance of the members of a Parliament party at any important session, especially when their votes are needed. (b) A call made upon members of a Parliament party to be in their places at a given time, as when a vote is to be taken.