meanwhile

Pronunciation

• IPA: UK /ˌmiːnˈwaɪl/, /ˈmiːn.waɪl/, US /ˈmiːn.waɪl/^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English mene while, formed from mean “middle, intermediate” and while (noun).^[2][3][4][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

As a noun, the meantime, the interval between one time and another: the late 14th century in Etymonline, before 1382 in the Historical Thesaurus.^[2][6] As an adverb, during that time: the late 14th century in Etymonline, 1440 in the Historical Thesaurus.^[2][6]

Semantic evolution

As a noun it is properly two words but is commonly written as one, after the adverb.^[2] In the adversative sense, “on the other hand, nevertheless”, it is from 1597.^[6] The noun now survives mainly in the phrase in the meanwhile, and is otherwise rare.^[5][6]

Timeline

• a. 1382 – noun, the meantime.^[6]
• 1440 – adverb, in the meantime.^[6]
• 1597 – on the other hand.^[6]

Modern meaning

Adverb

1. During the time between two events.
2. At the same time, especially in another place.
3. Used to compare two things: on the other hand.

Noun

1. The time in between; the meantime.

Related words

• meantime
• mean
• while

References

1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
2. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
4. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
6. ^ a b c d e f g Kay, Christian; Roberts, Jane; Samuels, Michael; Wotherspoon, Irené, eds. (2009), Historical Thesaurus of the Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford: Oxford University Press; online edition (2024)