had been expropriating

• past perfect progressive

  past perfect progressive

  Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.

  of expropriate.
  expropriate

  verb (used with object)

  to take possession of, especially for public use by the right of eminent domain, thus divesting the title of the private owner.

Related Words

• annex
• confiscate
• requisition
• sequester