till

Everyday

1. Till means until, up to a time: open from 9 till 5. tree →
2. A till is the drawer or machine where a shop keeps money and gives change (a cash register). tree →
3. To till the soil is to dig and prepare it for planting. tree →

In the lessons

Maths: marks the end of a period of time: «from 9 till 5» asks for elapsed time (8 hours); «saved till she had 50» gives the goal amount; money in the till. Farming: farmers till the land before sowing. Everyday: «pay at the till», «wait till later».

Examples

• The shop is open from 9 till 5. tree →
• She saved till she had 50 dollars. tree →
• There are 200 dollars in the till. tree →
• He worked till noon. tree →
• Wait till the green man shows before you cross. tree →
• Please pay at the till. tree →
• The farmer tills his fields in spring. tree →
• We played till it got dark. tree →
• Do this each day till I return." tree →

Note

Same meaning as «until»; «'til» is also seen. «From 9 till 5» asks for elapsed time (8 hours). «Saved till she had 50» gives the goal amount. Trap: «from 9 till 5» crosses noon, so think on a clock, not 5 − 9.

In Jewish tradition

"Till" means "until"; it can also mean to work the soil, as in Cain, "a tiller of the ground." In the later books it is mostly used as "until."

Interpretation. Cain the tiller and Abel the shepherd bring the first offerings, and tradition reflects on how their rivalry ended in the first murder.

Examples

• And Moses said unto them: 'Let no man leave of it till the morning.' (Torah EXO.16.19, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. (Torah GEN.4.2, JPS 1917) tree →
• But if the cloud was not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. (Torah EXO.40.37, JPS 1917) tree →
• Till the LORD look forth, and behold from heaven. (Writings LAM.3.50, JPS 1917) tree →
• Till He fill thy mouth with laughter, and thy lips with shouting. (Writings JOB.8.21, JPS 1917) tree →
• And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong. (Writings 2CH.26.15, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Same meaning as «until»; «'til» is also seen. «From 9 till 5» asks for elapsed time (8 hours). «Saved till she had 50» gives the goal amount. Trap: «from 9 till 5» crosses noon, so think on a clock, not 5 − 9.