used adverbially (now only preceded by a) with the sense ‘during a short time’. (In Old English as adverbial genitive.)

(a) In a short time; shortly (before, after, etc.); (b) for (only) a short time, briefly; (c) for or at a short distance. Obsolete.

(For) a short time, (for) a little.

Used adverbially, with a. Cf. branch C. For or in a short time; for or at a short distance.

a litel wan (= Old English lýthwón): a little while.

a while (also rarely one while): (a) as noun phrase, a time, esp. a short or moderate time (chiefly with the prepositions after, for, in, †within)…

with demonstrative determiner that or this (now only with all preceding), forming adverbial phrases.

Within a short time (after a particular point of time specified or implied), before long, quickly… till soon, for a short time. Obsolete.

Adverbially: during a moment; for the duration of a moment.

In predicative use: destined to last only a moment. Obsolete.

For a brief while. Obsolete in the positive.

transferred. The brief period during which a flash is visible. for a flash: for a brief moment; while the fit lasts (obsolete).

For a moment, momentarily.

For a moment; for a very short time, fleetingly.

for a sudden: for an instant. Obsolete.

For a short time. rare.

For the moment, fleetingly; = momentarily, adv. 1.