meanwhilen.adv.
/ˈmiːnwʌɪl/, U.S. /ˈminˌ(h)waɪl/ A. n. Chiefly in adverb phrases. The time intervening between one particular period or event and another; = meantime n. † 4. (in) the meanwhile that: during the time that. Obsolete.
1. in the meanwhile.
a. During the time intervening between one particular period or event and a subsequent one; while or until a (specified) period or event occurs. Cf. sense B. 1. Also †in the mean(s) whiles, †in (that, this, which, etc.) meanwhile, in meanwhile.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > [adverb] > meanwhile
all the whilec888
to whilec950
the whilec960
amongOE
emethena1300
to whilesa1300
therewhilesc1320
that whilesc1330
i-whilesa1340
in (that, this, which, etc.) meantime1340
in the meanwhilea1375
(all) the (also this, that) meantimea1382
in the mean season (also space)a1382
the mean seasona1382
the meanwhilea1382
in the meantimec1384
for the meanwhilec1390
in the mean(s) whilesc1390
the whilesa1400
the whilsta1400
whilsta1400
(in) the meanwhile that?1418
therewhilec1430
mesne1439
meanwhile1440
for the meantime1480
while1508
in the while1542
in the mean1565
in the mean way1569
interim1580
in (that, this, which, etc.) meanwhilea1593
meantimea1593
this while1594
mean space1600
among-hands?1609
between (betwixt obsolete or archaic) whiles1647
ad interim1701
per interim1724
interimistically1890
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 1148 (MED) Boþe partiȝes..made hem alle merie in þe mene while.
c1390 G. Chaucer Man of Law's Tale 668 On this book he swoor anoon She gilty was and in the mene whiles An hand hym smoot vpon the nekke boon.
c1395 G. Chaucer Friar's Tale 1445 In this meene while This yeman gan a litel for to smyle.
a1450 (c1435) J. Lydgate Life SS. Edmund & Fremund (Harl.) 85 in C. Horstmann Altengl. Legenden (1881) 2nd Ser. 398 (MED) And in this menewhile it fil upon a day..He wolde disporte him.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin 174 (MED) In the meene while lete vs geder oure kyn..out of alle londes.
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 3102 Ho..staryt O þat stoute..There most was hir mynd in þat mene qwhile.
?c1550 tr. P. Vergil Eng. Hist. (1846) I. viii. 286 In the mean whiles it fortuned that [etc.].
1576 W. Lambarde Perambulation of Kent 252 [Archbishop Baldwin] went into the holy Lande..and dyed without returne, in whiche meane while, the Chapell of Hakington..was..demolished.
1581 J. Bell tr. W. Haddon & J. Foxe Against Jerome Osorius 147 b And where in the meanes whiles lurketh then the law that is written within, in the hartes of the faythfull?
a1593 C. Marlowe Edward II (1594) sig. H4 We in meane while madam, must take aduise.
1595 S. Daniel First Fowre Bks. Ciuile Warres iv. xxxiv. sig. Vv Yet now in this so happie a meane while.
1606 P. Holland tr. Suetonius Hist. Twelve Caesars 11 And in this meane while,..when the Senate thought good there should be but one Consul created, namely Cn. Pompeivs.
1628 E. Blount in J. Earle Micro-cosmogr. To Rdr. sig. A3v In the mean while, I remaine Thine. Ed. Blovnt.
1707 J. Freind Acct. Earl of Peterborow's Conduct in Spain 235 In the mean while, my Lord pursu'd the Enemies Army.
1786 Marquis de Lafayette Let. 2 Aug. in J. Ledyard Journey through Russia (1966) 100 In the mean while Baron de Grimm advises..Ledyard not to Throw a way Any other opportunity that might offer.
1818 Cobbett's Weekly Polit. Reg. 33 101 Upon this subject I will in my next Number make an appeal... In the meanwhile let me pride myself a little on the circumstance [etc.].
a1879 F. F. Cooper Hard Times (1886) ii. v. 12/2 I be more gladsome and leet under it than I could have expected. In meanwhile, I will try to look joyfully for the time when we shall walk together.
1908 H. G. Wells First & Last Things iii. viii. 123 The organized state..has not arrived..and in the meanwhile they must act like its anticipatory agents.
1960 G. Sanders Mem. Professional Cad ii. viii. 170 In the meanwhile the boat..evidently decided to end it all.
1986 Daily Tel. 10 Nov. 18 In the meanwhile, the Government is effectively admitting that state spending is out of control.
b. In adversative or concessive use: nevertheless, still; on the other hand. Cf. sense B. 2. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > attestation, witness, evidence > qualification > [adverb] > however, nevertheless, notwithstanding
though-whetherc897
nathelesseOE
though971
whetherOE
yetOE
neverlOE
what for-thyc1175
nethelessa1200
never the latterc1225
algatec1230
in spite of (despite, maugre, etc.) one's teethc1230
nought for thatc1275
(all) for noughtc1325
(in) spite of one's nosec1325
alway1340
thoughless1340
ne'er the later (also latter)a1382
ne'er the lessa1382
neverlatera1382
neverthelessa1382
ne for-thia1400
neverlessa1400
not-againstandinga1400
nauthelessc1400
nouthelessc1400
algatesc1405
noughtwithstanding1422
netherless?a1425
notwithstanding1425
nethertheless1440
not gainstandingc1440
not the lessa1450
alwaysa1470
howbeit1470
never þe quedera1475
nought the lessc1480
what reck?a1513
nonetheless1533
howsomever1562
after all1590
in spite of spite1592
meantime1594
notwithstand1596
withal1596
in the meanwhile1597
meanwhile1597
howsoever1601
in (one's) spite?1615
however1623
in the meantime1631
non obstante1641
at the same time1679
with a non-obstante to1679
stilla1699
the same1782
all the same1803
quand même1825
still and all1829
anyhow1867
anyway1876
still and ona1894
all the samey1897
just the same1901
but1939
1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. xlviii. 102 We pray..that God would turne them away from vs, owing in the meane while this deuotion to the Lord our God, that [etc.].
1879 J. McCarthy Hist. our Own Times II. xxix. 368 In the meanwhile we may regard him simply as a great author.
2. Without preposition. the meanwhile = sense A. 1a. Also this (also that) meanwhile(s), all this meanwhile, all that meanwhile during. Now rare (archaic).Joyce's use (quot. 1920) is in imitation of Malory.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > [noun] > the meantime
meanwhilea1382
the world > time > [adverb] > meanwhile
all the whilec888
to whilec950
the whilec960
amongOE
emethena1300
to whilesa1300
therewhilesc1320
that whilesc1330
i-whilesa1340
in (that, this, which, etc.) meantime1340
in the meanwhilea1375
(all) the (also this, that) meantimea1382
in the mean season (also space)a1382
the mean seasona1382
the meanwhilea1382
in the meantimec1384
for the meanwhilec1390
in the mean(s) whilesc1390
the whilesa1400
the whilsta1400
whilsta1400
(in) the meanwhile that?1418
therewhilec1430
mesne1439
meanwhile1440
for the meantime1480
while1508
in the while1542
in the mean1565
in the mean way1569
interim1580
in (that, this, which, etc.) meanwhilea1593
meantimea1593
this while1594
mean space1600
among-hands?1609
between (betwixt obsolete or archaic) whiles1647
ad interim1701
per interim1724
interimistically1890
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1963) 1 Kings x. 2 Þi fadyr þe mene while, þe assis left, is besi for ȝou.
a1425 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (1987) iii. 50 Lay al this mene while Troilus Recordyng his lesson.
c1450 in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 590/14 Interea, the mene whyle.
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 148 The meanewhyle Morgan le Fay had wente kynge Arthure had bene dede.
1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Luke 20 b Al that meane while duryng, [they] had a priest that could not speake.
1654 Earl of Monmouth tr. G. Bentivoglio Compl. Hist. Warrs Flanders 363 But the United Provinces lost not the opportunity this mean whiles which offered it self so favourably to them.
1658 Earl of Monmouth tr. P. Paruta Hist. Venice ii. i. 40 Generall Zaune, was this mean while gone from Corfu.
1688 J. Barnes Hist. Edward III i. i. 6 The mean while King Edward conceives an high indignation at this unprovoked Defiance.
1920 J. Joyce Ulysses Oxen of Sun in Little Rev. Sept. 86 This meanwhile this good sister stood by the door.
3. for the meanwhile: so long as a period of (intervening) time lasts; for the interim. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > [adverb] > meanwhile
all the whilec888
to whilec950
the whilec960
amongOE
emethena1300
to whilesa1300
therewhilesc1320
that whilesc1330
i-whilesa1340
in (that, this, which, etc.) meantime1340
in the meanwhilea1375
(all) the (also this, that) meantimea1382
in the mean season (also space)a1382
the mean seasona1382
the meanwhilea1382
in the meantimec1384
for the meanwhilec1390
in the mean(s) whilesc1390
the whilesa1400
the whilsta1400
whilsta1400
(in) the meanwhile that?1418
therewhilec1430
mesne1439
meanwhile1440
for the meantime1480
while1508
in the while1542
in the mean1565
in the mean way1569
interim1580
in (that, this, which, etc.) meanwhilea1593
meantimea1593
this while1594
mean space1600
among-hands?1609
between (betwixt obsolete or archaic) whiles1647
ad interim1701
per interim1724
interimistically1890
c1390 G. Chaucer Man of Law's Tale 546 Ther was hir refut for the mene while.
1849 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. June 767 Stop. Let that suffice for the meanwhile.
1859 R. B. Sage Rocky Mountain Life xiv. 160 The whole of this long stretch he crawled upon his hands and knees,–subsisting, for the meanwhile, only upon insects.
1993 W. Self My Idea of Fun (BNC) 125 I didn't know who or where to turn to. So for the meanwhile I continued with my ritualised observances.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > [adverb] > meanwhile
all the whilec888
to whilec950
the whilec960
amongOE
emethena1300
to whilesa1300
therewhilesc1320
that whilesc1330
i-whilesa1340
in (that, this, which, etc.) meantime1340
in the meanwhilea1375
(all) the (also this, that) meantimea1382
in the mean season (also space)a1382
the mean seasona1382
the meanwhilea1382
in the meantimec1384
for the meanwhilec1390
in the mean(s) whilesc1390
the whilesa1400
the whilsta1400
whilsta1400
(in) the meanwhile that?1418
therewhilec1430
mesne1439
meanwhile1440
for the meantime1480
while1508
in the while1542
in the mean1565
in the mean way1569
interim1580
in (that, this, which, etc.) meanwhilea1593
meantimea1593
this while1594
mean space1600
among-hands?1609
between (betwixt obsolete or archaic) whiles1647
ad interim1701
per interim1724
interimistically1890
?1418 Guildhall Let.-bk. in R. W. Chambers & M. Daunt Bk. London Eng. (1931) 94 (MED) She wold paye..for his mete and drinke that he spended al þe mene while þat he were in this toun.
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 65 The meanewhyle that thys knyght was makynge hym redy to departe [etc.].
1480 W. Caxton Chron. Eng. cxxxix. 118 The emperesse in the mene whyle that the batayll dured escaped fro thens and went vnto oxenford.
5. [Use as noun of B.] A period of time intervening between one particular period or event and another; an interval. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > [noun] > stretch, period, or portion of time > period of time between events or interval
waya1300
distancec1330
interstition1390
spacea1400
pastimea1513
vacance1533
intermission?1566
vacation1567
intervallum1574
interim1579
between-timea1586
wem1599
parenthesis1600
intermedium1611
betweena1616
fore-while?1615
interpolation1615
vacancya1616
interval1616
interstitium1624
slatcha1625
interspace1629
intermissa1633
between-spacea1641
interregnum1659
intervalea1661
interlapse1666
interlude1751
in-between1815
lapse1817
intermezzo1851
meanwhile1872
1872 W. R. Greg Enigmas 191 The long ages of the Meanwhile.
1881 G. M. Hopkins Poems (1967) 87 Henry, by the wall, Beckoned me beside him: I came where called, and eyed him By meanwhiles.
1999 Church Times 17 Dec. 11/2 It is as serious to anticipate the end when we are still in the meanwhile as it is to fail in alertness to the time of judgement.
B. adv.
1. During the time intervening between one particular period or event and another; while or until a particular event occurs; at the same time; for the present.In modern use the sense is sometimes more specifically ‘at the same time in another place’ (see also meanwhile back at the ranch at ranch n.2 Phrases).
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > [adverb] > meanwhile
all the whilec888
to whilec950
the whilec960
amongOE
emethena1300
to whilesa1300
therewhilesc1320
that whilesc1330
i-whilesa1340
in (that, this, which, etc.) meantime1340
in the meanwhilea1375
(all) the (also this, that) meantimea1382
in the mean season (also space)a1382
the mean seasona1382
the meanwhilea1382
in the meantimec1384
for the meanwhilec1390
in the mean(s) whilesc1390
the whilesa1400
the whilsta1400
whilsta1400
(in) the meanwhile that?1418
therewhilec1430
mesne1439
meanwhile1440
for the meantime1480
while1508
in the while1542
in the mean1565
in the mean way1569
interim1580
in (that, this, which, etc.) meanwhilea1593
meantimea1593
this while1594
mean space1600
among-hands?1609
between (betwixt obsolete or archaic) whiles1647
ad interim1701
per interim1724
interimistically1890
Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 332 Mene whyle, interim.
1594 W. Shakespeare Titus Andronicus i. i. 405 Let the lawes of Rome determine all, Meane while am I possest of that is mine.
c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme lxviii. 5 in Coll. Wks. (1998) II. 78 The iust meane while shall in Iehouahs presence Play, sing, and daunce.
1649 R. Lovelace Aramantha in Lucasta 156 As she heard Lucasta, smiles Posses her round, she's slipt mean whiles Behind the blind of a thick Bush.
1678 S. Butler Hudibras: Third Pt. iii. i. 7 Mean while, the Squire was on his way, The Knight's late Orders to obey.
1713 J. Addison Cato ii. vi Mean while I'll draw up my Numidian Troops, And, as I see Occasion, favour thee.
1847 C. Dickens Dombey & Son (1848) xxiii. 232 Rob was despatched for a coach, the visitors keeping shop meanwhile.
1877 J. A. Froude Short Stud. (1883) IV. i. x. 113 The archbishop meanwhile had returned from his adventurous expedition.
1915 D. H. Lawrence Rainbow xiv. 388 Meanwhile the brook slid on coldly, chuckling to itself.
1934 F. S. Fitzgerald Tender is Night ii. viii. 194 He..took a small beer on the terrace of the station buffet, meanwhile watching the little bug crawl down the eighty-degree slope of the hill.
1961 G. L. Coon (title) Meanwhile, back at the front.
1988 M. Spark Far Cry from Kensington ii. 18 The husband seized his wife by her hair..she meanwhile beating his body and caterwauling.
2. In adversative or concessive use: nevertheless, still; on the other hand. Cf. sense A. 1b.Although this is now rare as a distinct meaning, the adversative force is still often present in the use of sense A. 1 to mean ‘at the same time’. The two senses are not always readily distinguished, and some of the quots. given here could be argued to be examples of sense A. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > attestation, witness, evidence > qualification > [adverb] > however, nevertheless, notwithstanding
though-whetherc897
nathelesseOE
though971
whetherOE
yetOE
neverlOE
what for-thyc1175
nethelessa1200
never the latterc1225
algatec1230
in spite of (despite, maugre, etc.) one's teethc1230
nought for thatc1275
(all) for noughtc1325
(in) spite of one's nosec1325
alway1340
thoughless1340
ne'er the later (also latter)a1382
ne'er the lessa1382
neverlatera1382
neverthelessa1382
ne for-thia1400
neverlessa1400
not-againstandinga1400
nauthelessc1400
nouthelessc1400
algatesc1405
noughtwithstanding1422
netherless?a1425
notwithstanding1425
nethertheless1440
not gainstandingc1440
not the lessa1450
alwaysa1470
howbeit1470
never þe quedera1475
nought the lessc1480
what reck?a1513
nonetheless1533
howsomever1562
after all1590
in spite of spite1592
meantime1594
notwithstand1596
withal1596
in the meanwhile1597
meanwhile1597
howsoever1601
in (one's) spite?1615
however1623
in the meantime1631
non obstante1641
at the same time1679
with a non-obstante to1679
stilla1699
the same1782
all the same1803
quand même1825
still and all1829
anyhow1867
anyway1876
still and ona1894
all the samey1897
just the same1901
but1939
1597 Bp. J. King Lect. Ionas xl. 540 Meane-while, the time, and cause, and measure of this anger in Ionas, I thinke, are worthy to be blamed.
1631 tr. J. Ghesel Rule of Health sig. A6 All of vs do covet length of life,..without making vse either of Physicall Art, or of medicines God hath furnished vs withall: mean while blaming the Physitian for vnskilfullness.
1650 J. Reynolds Flower of Fidelitie Concl. 190 Excuse my fondling Muse, for not charactering finer invention: mean whiles, if I understand you give my Flower of Fidelity but the least shew of a gracious acceptance, I will this Winter inforce my self to be conversant with the Muses.
1837 G. S. Faber Primitive Doctr. Justification 277 Meanwhile, the really primitive and apostolic and catholic doctrine was that of the Reformers.
1876 L. Stephen Hist. Eng. Thought 18th Cent. II. 443 Meanwhile, however, one characteristic of the English sentimentalists must be noticed.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.adv.a1375