† umbewhileadv.
Obsolete.
1. After a time.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > relative time > immediacy > [adverb] > presently
umbewhile971
umbestoundc1275
in spacec1400
presentlya1566
971 Blickling Hom. 217 Þa wæs ymb hwile, ða gefelde he þæt se deada man his leomu ealle astyrede.
a1225 Leg. Kath. 12 Weox umbe hwile [Royal MS. umbe hwiles] wreððe ham bitweonen.
2. At times; sometimes.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > frequency > infrequency > [adverb] > sometimes or occasionally
whiloma900
whilea1000
stoundmealc1000
stundumOE
otherwhileOE
umquhile1154
with and withc1175
by stoundsa1225
otherwhilesc1225
umbestound?c1225
umbewhilec1230
then and thenc1275
sometime…sometime1297
umstounda1300
by while13..
over while13..
sometime1340
umbe throwea1350
at timesa1382
now and again (also anon, eft, now)a1393
umbwhile1393
eftsoona1398
sometimea1400
by sithesc1400
umbestoundsc1400
from time to (formerly unto) time1423
now and (also or) then1445
ever now and nowa1470
when and whenc1470
occasionallya1475
in timesa1500
whiles?a1500
whilomsa1500
sometimes1526
somewhiles1528
at whiles1540
ever now and then1542
a-whiles1546
somewhiles…, somewhiles1547
at sometimes1548
now and thenc1550
ever and anon1558
by occasions1562
on (also upon) occasion1562
as soon…as soon1581
every now and then (also again)1642
by a time1721
once and a while1765
ever and again1788
periodically1825
in spots1851
c1230 Hali Meid. 27 Nawt ane on ende; ah eauer umbehwile.
a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 47 Sleuthe ant Slep mi bedyuer, þat weneþ me vmbe while. Vmbe while y am to wene, when y shal murþes meten.
1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. vii. 396 (Laud 656) [They] setyn til euesang range & songe vmbywhile.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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adv.971