pawn
verb (used with object)
to deposit as security, as for money borrowed, especially with a pawnbroker.
had been pawning
-
past perfect progressiveof pawn.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.
As a matter of fact, she suspected that he had been pawning his clothes, for the reason that his bag, which was comparatively heavy when he arrived, seemed to be almost empty when he left.
From The Childerbridge Mystery by Boothby, Guy Newell
The mantelpiece was still empty, but, as Clowes pointed out, it now merely looked as if Trevor had been pawning some of his household gods.
From The Gold Bat by Wodehouse, P. G. (Pelham Grenville)
