were 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:

were varnishing

There it stood, behind a calico screen that the coach-painters used to keep out the dust when they were varnishing.

From Joe Wilson and His Mates by Lawson, Henry

The men who were varnishing the meat with salt and pepper were told that they were too slow.

From Sally of Missouri by Young, Rose E. (Rose Emmet)

Related Words

• gild
• lacquer