Definition of the word meanwhile

The word "meanwhile" has its roots in ancient Greek and Latin. The Greek word "mēntōris" (μέントρις) means "to join, conjoin," and the Latin phrase "meanwhile" is a translation of the Greek phrase "mēntōris tauta" (μένοỵσις ταυta), which means "at the same time." Over time, the phrase was adapted and shortened to "meanwhile," which is used to indicate a simultaneous action or event, often contrasting with another event or action that has already occurred. For example, "I was studying while the game was on, meanwhile my friend was watching it." In modern English, "meanwhile" is often used to describe different events or actions that are not necessarily happening at the exact same time, but are occurring simultaneously in a narrative or sequence. Despite its ancient origins, the word "meanwhile" remains a useful and common term in modern language.