þa hwile þe

Old English

Etymology

Literally "for the time that...", using the accusative of duration.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /θɑː ˈxwiː.le θe/, [θɑː ˈʍiː.le θe]

Conjunction

þā hwīle þe

1. while
   • "Gospel of Saint John", chapter 9, verse 4

     Mē ġebȳrað tō wyrceanne þæs weorc þe mē sende, þā hwīle þe hit dæġ is; niht cymþ, þonne nān man wyrcan ne mæġ.

     It behoves me to work work of that which sent to me, while it is day; night comes, then no one can work.

   • c. 995, Ælfric, Extracts on Grammar in English

     Iċ rēd þā hwīle þe þū ǣte.

     I read while you were eating.

2. as long as
   • late 9th century, King Alfred's translation of The Consolation of Philosophy

     Þæt is nū hraðost tō seċġenne þæt iċ wilnode weorþfullīċe tō libbenne þā hwīle þe iċ lifde, and æfter mīnum līfe þām mannum tō lǣfanne þe æfter mē wǣren mīne ġemynd on gōdum weorcum.

     In short, I wanted to live honorably as long as I lived, and to leave behind, for those who would come after me, the memory of me in good works.