This is the 5710th most frequent Catalan word.
faltava
"Faltava" means "was missing" or "was lacking" in English.
Here, 'faltava' is used to indicate absence or something missing. In this context, it refers to the missing detail needed to complete the project.
Faltava només un detall per acabar el projecte.
Only one detail was missing to complete the project.
In this sentence, 'faltava' expresses the absence of an entity—in this case, a person—during an event (the meeting).
Ahir faltava una persona a la reunió.
Yesterday, one person was missing from the meeting.
This usage of 'faltava' conveys the lack or insufficient presence of abstract qualities—in this case, motivation—to achieve a goal.