This is the 13375th most frequent German word.
befürchteten
"Feared" or "dreaded."
Here, 'befürchteten' expresses the worry or concern of the students regarding the difficulty of the exam.
Die Schüler befürchteten, dass die Prüfung sehr schwierig sein würde.
The students feared that the exam would be very difficult.
In this sentence, 'befürchteten' describes the anxiety or suspicion of imminent natural phenomena based on observation.
Unsere Vorfahren befürchteten oft Naturkatastrophen, wenn der Himmel ungewöhnlich wolkig war.
Our ancestors often feared natural disasters when the sky was unusually cloudy.
This use of 'befürchteten' conveys the apprehension of individuals regarding potential negative outcomes of technological advancements.