meantime

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The period of time between two events; used mainly in the phrase 'in the meantime'.

   Dinner will be ready soon; in the meantime, please sit down.

2. 2
   adv

   During the time between two events; meanwhile.

   The bus comes at six; meantime, we can have a coffee.

From Middle English menetime, equivalent to mean + time. Adverb is by ellipsis from in the meantime.

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