until

Etymology

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.

prep

1. Up to the time of (something happening).
   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. 2013-06-28, Joris Luyendijk, “Our banks are out of control”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 3, page 21
2. Up to (a certain place)
   Keep walking until the second set of traffic lights, then turn left.
3. Before (a time).
   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." 2013-06-21, Chico Harlan, “Japan pockets the subsidy …”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 2, page 30
4. (obsolete) To; physically towards.

conj

1. Up to the time that (a condition becomes true).
   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. 2013-07-19, Peter Wilby, “Finland spreads word on schools”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 6, page 30
2. Before (a condition becoming true).