This is the 12334th most frequent French word.
éprouvait
"Éprouvait" means "felt" or "was experiencing."
In this sentence, 'éprouvait' is used to express the experiencing of an emotional state, specifically sadness.
Elle éprouvait une grande tristesse après avoir quitté sa maison.
She felt great sadness after leaving her house.
Here, 'éprouvait' conveys the sensation of emotional appreciation, namely admiration for someone.
Il éprouvait une forte admiration pour son professeur.
He felt strong admiration for his teacher.
In this context, 'éprouvions' is the plural form of 'éprouvait' and is used to describe experiencing or undergoing challenges.