adv. arch. [Orig. two words, WHILE adv. 2 and ERE; for the abbreviated spelling cf. wherever.] A while before; some time ago: = EREWHILE.
a. 1000. Judith, 214. Þa þe hwile ær elðeodiʓra edwit þoledon.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Can. Yeom. Prol. & T., 775. Helpeth me now as a dide yow whil eer.
c. 1412. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 1317. Whyl er, my sone, tolde I naght to þe What habundance in youth I hadde of good.
c. 1460. J. Russell, Bk. Nurture, 377. Son, take þy knyfe as y taught þe whileere, Kut bravne in þe dische riȝt as hit liethe there.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. ix. 28. That cursed wight, from whom I scapt whyleare.
1610. Shaks., Temp., III. ii. 127. Will you troule the Catch You taught me but whileare?
1630. Milton, Circumcision, 10. He who with all Heavn’s heraldry whileare Enter’d the world, now bleeds to give us ease.
a. 1652. Brome, Weeding of Cov.-Garden, I. i. Mark how he stands, as if he had learn’t a posture at Knightsbridge spittle as we came along while-eare.
1767. Mickle, Concub., I. ii. Melodious Mulla! when, full oft whyleare, Thy gliding Murmurs soothd the gentle Brest Of hapless Spenser.
1808. Scott, Marmion, V. Introd. 139. My harp … Whose Anglo-Norman tones whilere Could win the royal Henry’s ear.
1884. J. Payne, Tales from Arabic, I. 225. How joyous and how solaceful was life in them whilere!
