advb. phr.; also 5 awhyle, 6 a-wyle. [Strictly two words, OE. áne hwíle (for) a while, a space of time: usually written in comb. since 13th c.] (For) a short time, (for) a little.
a. 1000. Beowulf, 3528. Nú is þínes mæʓnes blǽd áne hwile.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 199. Þe ule one hwile hi biþohte.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 10135. Leue ȝoure wantounship awhile.
1538. Starkey, England, II. iii. 203. Aftur they haue byn brought up in lernyng A-wyle.
1725. De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 104. Sailing awhile to the Southward.
1810. Scott, Lady of L., I. xx. Awhile she paused, no answer came.
¶ Improperly written together, when there is no unification of sense, and while is purely a sb.
1489. Caxton, Faytes of A., I. xxiii. 72. It was doon but awhyle agoon.
1872. Yeats, Growth Comm., 102. For awhile the facilities … enabled the Venetians [etc.].
1882. ‘Ouida,’ Bimbi, 44. After awhile they seemed to pacify each other and agree to something.
