cherish
verb (used with object)
to hold or treat as dear; feel love for.
had been cherishing
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past perfect progressiveof cherish.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.
Wilson picked up rounded pieces of ice at the rookery which the stupid Emperors had been cherishing, fondly imagining they were eggs; evidently the maternal instinct of the Emperor penguin is very strong.
From South with Scott by Edward Ratcliffe Garth Russell Evans, Baron Mountevans
With a resolve at once to cast away the serpent she had been cherishing, Mademoiselle Scuderi alighted from her carriage.
From The Serapion Brethren. Vol. II by Ernst Theordor Wilhelm Hoffmann
Evidently, he thought, in spite of his friend's air of humorous detachment, he had been cherishing some genuine feeling for Miss Greta.
From The Messenger by Elizabeth Robins
She smiled in spite of the feeling of vengeance she had been cherishing against her tormentor.
From Elizabeth Hobart at Exeter Hall by R. G. Vosburgh
The explanation is that he long had been cherishing his lust for gold.
From The Gospel of Luke, An Exposition by Charles Rosenbury Erdman
