plunder
verb (used with object)
to rob of goods or valuables by open force, as in war, hostile raids, brigandage, etc...
had been plundering
-
past perfect progressiveof plunder.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.
While Seabiscuit had spent the summer pillaging the West, War Admiral had been plundering the East with four triumphs in succession.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
In that year part of the army which had been plundering along the coast of Flanders and Holland came over to England, landed in Kent, and besieged Rochester.
From Heroes Every Child Should Know by Mabie, Hamilton Wright
On one occasion he was marching with his forces from the north to encounter the Danes, who had been plundering in Suffolk and had reached Essex.
From Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Ely A History and Description of the Building with a Short Account of the Monastery and of the See by Sweeting, W. D. (Walter Debenham)
Cornwallis, as soon as Greene left him, hurried to Petersburg, Va. A British force during the winter and spring had been plundering and ravaging in Virginia, under the traitor Arnold.
From A School History of the United States by McMaster, John Bach
A second glance showed him that this individual was Pillichody, and satisfied that he had been plundering the house, he instantly seized him.
From Old Saint Paul's A Tale of the Plague and the Fire by Ainsworth, William Harrison
