was varnishing

• past progressive

  past progressive

  Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.

  of varnish.
  varnish

  noun

  a preparation consisting of resinous matter, as copal or lac, dissolved in an oil oil varnish or in alcohol spirit varnish or other volatile liquid. When applied to the surface of wood, metal, etc., it dries and leaves a hard, more or less glossy, usually transparent coating.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

was varnishing

"It's a pity this isn't at the north pole," said the professor, who was varnishing dried fish in the cabin, where this conversation took place.

From The Boy Aviators' Polar Dash or Facing Death in the Antarctic by Goldfrap, John Henry

It was varnishing day at the Academy, and she had gone down to put the last touches on her big portrait—the one of "Madame X." that she had begun in Paris the year before.

From The Fortunes of Oliver Horn by Smith, Francis Hopkinson

Related Words

• gild
• lacquer