Etimology
From Middle English vntil, until, untill, ontil, ontill, equivalent to un- (“against; toward; up to”) + till. Perhaps representing a northern variant of Middle English unto. See unto.
preposition
until
Up to the time of (something happening).
Up to (a certain place)
Before (a time).
(obsolete) To; physically towards.
Examples
If you can wait until after my meeting with her, we'll talk then.
Seeing the British establishment struggle with the financial sector is like watching an alcoholic […]. Until 2008 there was denial over what finance had become. When a series of bank failures made this impossible, there was widespread anger, leading to the public humiliation of symbolic figures.
Keep walking until the second set of traffic lights, then turn left.
I was about to say that I had known the Celebrity from the time he wore kilts. But I see I will have to amend that, because he was not a celebrity then, nor, indeed, did he achieve fame until some time after I left New York for the West.
Across Japan, technology companies and private investors are racing to install devices that until recently they had little interest in: solar panels. Massive solar parks are popping up as part of a rapid build-up that one developer likened to an "explosion."
He rousd himselfe full blith, and hastned them untill.
Related words
synonyms
till (less formal)
'til (less formal)
up to
antonyms
since
conjunction
until
Up to the time that (a condition becomes true).
Before (a condition becoming true).
Examples
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.
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.
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.
Related words
synonyms
(up to the time that): till (less formal), 'til (nonstandard); see also Thesaurus:until
(before): afore, before