This is the 11367th most frequent French word.
redoutaient
"Redoutaient" means "feared" in English.
In this sentence, "redoutaient" is used to indicate fear or apprehension toward something potentially threatening, demonstrating an action in the past tense.
Les marins redoutaient la puissance des vagues.
The sailors feared the power of the waves.
Here, "redoutaient" expresses a concern or worry about negative repercussions for previous actions, again indicating this in the past tense.
Les enfants redoutaient la punition après leur bêtise.
The children dreaded the punishment after their mischief.
This usage of "redoutaient" conveys a sense of anxiety or unease regarding the recurrence of a previous event, emphasizing anticipation of something unfavorable in the past narrative.