sacrifice
noun
the offering of animal, plant, or human life or of some material possession to a deity, as in propitiation or homage.
had been sacrificing
-
past perfect progressiveof sacrifice.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 Ulster rose with enthusiasm to receive him, and the soldiers, whom treachery and incompetency had been sacrificing by the hundred to the ravages of disease and privation, took heart once more.
From William the Third by H. D. (Henry Duff) Traill
It seemed to Alston that he had been sacrificing all sorts of delicacies that Jeff might be justly used, and the laugh belittled them both.
From The Prisoner by Alice Brown
Poor Desborough fancied he had been sacrificing himself, and, if the truth must be told, felt a little proud of his own nobility.
From The Romance of the Coast by James Runciman
The information we received was, that the Eatooa, to whom they had been sacrificing, and whose name is Ooro, was concealed in it, or rather what is supposed to represent him.
From A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Volume 16 by Robert Kerr
She had been sacrificing herself, and had completed the sacrifice.
From Castle Richmond by Anthony Trollope
