This is the 8647th most frequent French word.
assistaient
"Assistaient" means "were attending" or "were present."
In this sentence, "assistaient" is used in its participatory sense, indicating regular attendance at an event.
Les étudiants assistaient à la conférence chaque semaine.
The students attended the lecture every week.
Here, "assistaient" conveys active involvement in an activity for the purpose of learning and observation.
Ils assistaient aux répétitions pour apprendre les gestes.
They attended the rehearsals to learn the movements.
In this context, "assistaient" refers to being present at a formal occasion to witness or take part in it.