Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And either I knew the name that I was punning on, or else I did not know it.
From The Unpopular Review, Number 19 July-December 1918 by Various
“And I’ve been more agreeably seat-uated too,” cried Peter, with a glance behind him, which almost cost him the seat he was punning about.
From Wild Life in the Land of the Giants A Tale of Two Brothers by Gordon Stables
I was punning scurvily with Sir Andrew Fountaine and Lord Pembroke this evening: do you ever pun now?
From The Journal to Stella by Jonathan Swift
On this whole scene Landor remarks that "the first overt crime of the refractory angels was punning"; and adds, with true Miltonic conciseness, "they fell rapidly after that."
From Milton by Sir Walter Alexander Raleigh
