This is the 7286th most frequent Dutch word.
betekende
"Betekende" means "meant" (past tense of "mean").
The word 'betekende' is used in the past tense to indicate the meaning or significance of his smile.
Zijn glimlach betekende zoveel voor mij.
His smile meant so much to me.
Here 'betekende' is questioning the interpretation or understanding of a past statement.
Wat betekende die zin in de brief, denk je?
What did that sentence in the letter mean, do you think?
The usage of 'betekende' reflects how its meaning has changed over time in past contexts.