elaborate
adjective
worked out with great care and nicety of detail; executed with great minuteness.
had been elaborating
-
past perfect progressiveof elaborate.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.
He knew she was spending most of her days at Linndale, and he had a vague idea that she and Rodney together had been elaborating still further on the plans for the house.
From Dangerous Days by Mary Roberts Rinehart
He had been elaborating dangers and defences, expecting the worst, rehearsing his best.
From Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad
Before the day was over I saw that instead of preaching the gospel I had been elaborating, from a partial premise, a crude view of my own.
From From Jest to Earnest by Edward Payson Roe
