had been scattering
- past perfect progressive of scatter.
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.
Probably they were seeking to elude the persecution of the stage-coaches, which, for the last thirty hours, had been scattering at all the inns and road-side cabarets hand-bills describing their persons and dress.
From Note Book of an English Opium-Eater by De Quincey, Thomas
Despotism engenders ignorance and cruelty; and despotism did but reap the awful harvest of blood and woe, of which, during countless ages of oppression, it had been scattering broadcast the seed.
From Harper's New Monthly Magazine, vol 1-98, 1850-1899 None by Harper, Various (magazine)
There were more than half-a-dozen men in Bunny's rooms when we got to them, and I found out that he had been scattering invitations broadcast during the afternoon.
From Godfrey Marten, Undergraduate by Turley, Charles
Then he spread his wings and slowly flew back and forth just above the rushes and wild rice, at the place where the man had been scattering the corn.
From Blacky the Crow by Burgess, Thornton W. (Thornton Waldo)
In his lifetime he had been scattering seeds of good around from hour to hour, almost unconsciously; and now he saw every seed springing up into a widening forest of immortal beauty and glory.
From The May Flower, and Miscellaneous Writings by Stowe, Harriet Beecher
