collate
verb (used with object)
to gather or arrange in their proper sequence (the pages of a report, the sheets of a book, the pages of several sets of copies, etc.).
had been collating
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past perfect progressiveof collate.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.
All his life he had been collating knowledge about shipping, foreign trade and the internal conditions, principal industries, steel requirements and tariffs of foreign nations.
From Time Magazine Archive
At last, one Friday afternoon, as he emerged from the Museum, where he had been collating the MSS. of some obscure Alexandrian, the old craving returned with added strength and he turned involuntarily westward.
From Robert Elsmere by Mrs. Humphry Ward
At last, one Friday afternoon, as he emerged from the Museum, where he had been collating the MSS. of some obscure Alexandrian, the old craving returned with added strength, and he turned involuntarily westward.
From Robert Elsmere by Mrs. Humphry Ward
Which wasn't true, for the moment before she had been collating the Hon. Percival's remarks and analysing the last one.
From When Ghost Meets Ghost by William Frend De Morgan
