assail
verb (used with object)
to attack vigorously or violently; assault.
had been assailing
-
past perfect progressiveof assail.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Pearl looked at her mother almost with alarm in her face, and the fears that had been assailing her that her family were beyond the social pale came back for a moment.
From Purple Springs by Nellie L. McClung
It was a great pleasure for Eugene to come into this atmosphere after the storm which had been assailing him for the past three years, and particularly for the past ninety days.
From The "Genius" by Theodore Dreiser
All that day the dull, foreboding feeling had been assailing her at intervals, and she had been unable to free herself entirely from the vague depression.
From The Crimson Tide A Novel by Robert W. (Robert William) Chambers
The great rebellion which for four long years had been assailing the nation's life was quelled.
From Abraham Lincoln, Volume 2 (of 2) The True Story of a Great Life by William H. Herndon
And he read aright the slippery crawling little noises that had been assailing his ears.
From Black Caesar's Clan : a Florida Mystery Story by Albert Payson Terhune
