This is the 12572nd most frequent Portuguese word.
tentava
"Tentava" means "was trying" or "used to try" in English.
The word 'tentava' is used as a past tense of the verb 'tentar,' meaning 'to try.' It indicates that the subject (she) made continuous efforts in the past to achieve a goal despite difficulties.
Ela tentava realizar os seus sonhos, apesar das dificuldades.
She was trying to fulfill her dreams, despite the challenges.
In this sentence, 'tentava' conveys the notion of past effort or endeavor, denoting that he engaged in trying to comprehend scientific basics.
Ele tentava entender os fundamentos da ciência através da leitura.
He was attempting to understand the fundamentals of science through reading.
Here, 'tentávamos,' the conjugated form of 'tentar' for 'we' in the past tense, reflects a collective attempt made by the speakers to communicate an issue.