whilst
UK: waɪlst | US: waɪlst
conj. meaning 1: during the time that; at the same time as (synonymous with "while")
conj. meaning 2: although; whereas (archaic or formal usage)
whilst = whil<time> + st<adverbial suffix>
- whil<time>: Derived from Old English hwīl ("a period of time"), related to German Weile.
- st<adverbial suffix>: A variant of the Old English suffix -es or -est, used to form adverbs (e.g., amongst, unbeknownst).
Etymology Origin:
"Whilst" evolved in Middle English as an adverbial form of "while," reinforced by the suffix -st (common in dialectal or archaic usage). It retains the core temporal meaning of "while" but is now primarily used in British English or formal contexts. The suffix -st adds no distinct semantic value but reflects older grammatical patterns.
She read a book whilst waiting for the train.
Whilst I understand your concern, I disagree with your approach.
He remained silent whilst others argued.
Whilst the project is ambitious, it is achievable.
The cat slept whilst the dog played outside.