until
Language: English
Part of speech: conj
Pronunciation: enpr: ŭn-tĭlʹ
enpr: ən-tĭlʹ
ipa: /ʌnˈtɪl/
ipa: /ənˈtɪl/
ipa: /ʊnˈtɪl/
enpr: ŭn-tĭlʹ
enpr: ən-tĭlʹ
ipa: /ʌnˈtɪl/
ipa: /ənˈtɪl/
ipa: /ɪnˈtɪl/
note: Appalachians, also
enpr: ŭn-tĭlʹ
ipa: /ˈʌntəl/
note: Appalachians, also
rhymes: -ɪl
Etymology: From Middle English vntil, until, untill, ontil, ontill, perhaps representing a northern variant of Middle English unto (see Modern English unto). By surface analysis, un- (“against; toward; up to”) + till.
Senses: examples: text: Not until I got his email did I fully understand his disappointment.
text: It took us a week before/until we got the house repainted.
text: It was April 22, 1831, and a young man was walking down Whitehall in the direction of Parliament Street.[…]. He halted opposite the Privy Gardens, and, with his face turned skywards, listened until the sound of the Tower guns smote again on the ear and dispelled his doubts.
ref: 1906, Stanley J[ohn] Weyman, chapter I, in Chippinge Borough, New York, N.Y.: McClure, Phillips & Co., →OCLC, page 01:
text: Imagine a country where children do nothing but play until they start compulsory schooling at age seven. Then, without exception, they attend comprehensives until the age of 16. Charging school fees is illegal, and so is sorting pupils into ability groups by streaming or setting.
ref: 2013 July 19, Peter Wilby, “Finland spreads word on schools”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 6, page 30:
glosses: Up to the time that (a condition becomes true).
examples: text: It is never possible to settle down to the ordinary routine of life at sea until the screw begins to revolve. There is an hour or two, after the passengers have embarked, which is disquieting and fussy.
ref: 1915, G[eorge] A. Birmingham [pseudonym; James Owen Hannay], chapter I, in Gossamer, New York, N.Y.: George H. Doran Company, →OCLC:
glosses: Before (a condition becoming true).
Synonyms: sense: up to the time that
word: till
word: 'til
sense: before
word: afore
sense: before
word: before
word: until
word: unto
word: while
word: whilom
Derived terms: sense: terms derived from all parts of speech
word: fake it until one makes it
sense: terms derived from all parts of speech
word: how many stops until
sense: terms derived from all parts of speech
word: it ain't over until the fat lady sings
sense: terms derived from all parts of speech
word: it isn't over until the fat lady sings
sense: terms derived from all parts of speech
word: it's all fun and games until someone loses an eye
sense: terms derived from all parts of speech
word: lesbian until graduation
sense: terms derived from all parts of speech
word: never put off until tomorrow what you can do today
sense: terms derived from all parts of speech
word: the jug goes to the well until it breaks
sense: terms derived from all parts of speech
word: 'til
sense: terms derived from all parts of speech
word: time until expiration
sense: terms derived from all parts of speech
word: until all hours
sense: terms derived from all parts of speech
word: until further notice
sense: terms derived from all parts of speech
word: until hell freezes over
sense: terms derived from all parts of speech
word: until Kingdom come
sense: terms derived from all parts of speech
word: until next time
sense: terms derived from all parts of speech
word: until one is blue in the face
sense: terms derived from all parts of speech
word: until one's dying day
sense: terms derived from all parts of speech
word: until proven otherwise
sense: terms derived from all parts of speech
word: until such time as
sense: terms derived from all parts of speech
word: until the cows come
sense: terms derived from all parts of speech
word: until the cows come home
sense: terms derived from all parts of speech
word: until the cows freeze over
sense: terms derived from all parts of speech
word: until the last dog is hung
sense: terms derived from all parts of speech
word: until the pips squeak
sense: terms derived from all parts of speech
word: until the wheels fall off
sense: terms derived from all parts of speech
word: until we meet again
sense: terms derived from all parts of speech
word: up until
sense: terms derived from all parts of speech
word: you never miss the water until the well runs dry