ealle hwile

Old English

Etymology

Dates back at least to Proto-West Germanic *allā hwīlā. Cognate with Old High German alla wīla. One of many fossilized phrases that became idiomatic when the language developed a definite article. Compare ealne dæġ, ealle niht, and ealne weġ.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈæ͜ɑl.le ˈxwiː.le/, [ˈæ͜ɑɫ.ɫe ˈʍiː.le]

Adverb

ealle hwīle

1. the whole time
   • late 9th century, translation of Orosius’ History Against the Pagans

     Þā fēng Philippus tō Mæcedonia rīċe, and hit ealle hwīle on miċelum plēo and on miċelum earfoþum hæfde.

     Then Philip came to the throne of Macedon, and held it the whole time in great danger and struggle.

Usage notes

• For the conjunctive phrase "the whole time that...", hwīl is used with a definite article: Ealle þā hwīle þe þæt līċ biþ inne, þǣr sċeal bēon ġedrinc and plega, oþ þone dæġ þe hīe hine forbærnaþ ("The whole time the body is inside, there's drinking and partying, until the day comes to cremate him") (The Voyage of Ohthere and Wulfstan).

Descendants

• Middle English: al þe while
  • English: all the while

See also

• þā hwīle þe