This is the 8716th most frequent Portuguese word.
alegavam
"Alegavam" means "they claimed" or "they argued."
In this sentence, 'alegavam' is used to indicate that the defendants stated or claimed their innocence in the context of judicial proceedings.
Os réus alegavam inocência durante o julgamento.
The defendants claimed innocence during the trial.
Here, 'alegavam' is used to express their assertion or declaration regarding the completion of the work ahead of time.
Eles alegavam ter concluído o trabalho antes do prazo previsto.
They claimed to have completed the work before the scheduled deadline.
In this usage, 'alegavam' is used to state or assert the students' condition of tiredness post a demanding day of academic activities.