caress
noun
an act or gesture expressing affection, as an embrace or kiss, especially a light stroking or touching.
had been caressing
-
past perfect progressiveof caress.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.
The red-whiskered man whirled, letting the 43hand that had been caressing his beard fall limply to his side.
From The Pony Rider Boys in Alaska Or, The Gold Diggers of Taku Pass by Frank Gee Patchin
Therefore, when Mashi drew that shawl over his feet, it seemed as if, night after night, Mani had been caressing his tired limbs.
From Mashi and Other Stories by Rabindranath Tagore
Against such a refrigerator my heart and fancy recovered their proper level: I had been caressing an iceberg in a white cravat.
From Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science Volume 12, No. 33, December, 1873 by Various
Jane, who, crazed with grief, had been caressing Archie's cold cheeks, lifted her head as if aware of the approach of some crisis, and turned to where the doctor knelt beside the rescued man.
From Tides of Barnegat by Francis Hopkinson Smith
"You did not mean to be unkind, dear little mistress," she said, as she kissed the hand which had been caressing her own golden hair.
From The Junior Classics — Volume 7 Stories of Courage and Heroism by William Patten
