"the while" meaning in English

{
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "þe while"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English þe while",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "þā hwīle"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English þā hwīle",
      "name": "inh"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Middle English þe while, from Old English þā hwīle, equivalent to the + while (noun).",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "-"
      },
      "expansion": "the while (not comparable)",
      "name": "en-adv"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adv",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 1 entry",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "2012, Tracy Saunders, The Indalo Quest, page 71:",
          "text": "Finally, she reluctantly piled in with me, complaining the while.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "At the same time; during that period; meanwhile."
      ],
      "id": "en-the_while-en-adv-n3rBi2Ba",
      "links": [
        [
          "meanwhile",
          "meanwhile"
        ]
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "all the while"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "the while"
}

{
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "þe while"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English þe while",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "þā hwīle"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English þā hwīle",
      "name": "inh"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Middle English þe while, from Old English þā hwīle, equivalent to the + while (noun).",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "-"
      },
      "expansion": "the while (not comparable)",
      "name": "en-adv"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adv",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English adverbs",
        "English entries with incorrect language header",
        "English lemmas",
        "English multiword terms",
        "English terms derived from Middle English",
        "English terms derived from Old English",
        "English terms inherited from Middle English",
        "English terms inherited from Old English",
        "English terms with quotations",
        "English uncomparable adverbs",
        "Pages with 1 entry",
        "Pages with entries"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "2012, Tracy Saunders, The Indalo Quest, page 71:",
          "text": "Finally, she reluctantly piled in with me, complaining the while.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "At the same time; during that period; meanwhile."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "meanwhile",
          "meanwhile"
        ]
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "all the while"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "the while"
}