Wile

Origin

From Middle English wile, wyle, from Old English wīl ("wile, trick") and wiġle ("divination"), from Proto-Germanic *wīlą ("craft, deceit") (from Proto-Indo-European *wei- ("to turn, bend")) and Proto-Germanic *wigulą, *wihulą ("prophecy") (from Proto-Indo-European *weik- ("to consecrate, hallow, make holy")). Cognate with Icelandic vél, væl ("artifice, craft, device, fraud, trick").

Full definition of wile

Noun

1. (usually in the plural) A trick or stratagem practiced for ensnaring or deception; a sly, insidious artificeHe was seduced by her wiles.
• Miltonto frustrate all our plots and wiles

Synonyms

• beguilement
• allurement

Related terms

• guile
• wily

Verb

1. To entice or lure
2. , "to pass the time".Here's a pleasant way to wile away the hours.

Usage notes

The phrase meaning to pass time idly is while away. We can trace the meaning in an adjectival sense for while back to Old English, hwÄ«len — passing, transitory. We also see it in the whilend — temporary, transitory. But since wile away occurs so often, it is now included in many dictionaries.