This is the 10463rd most frequent Spanish word.
contenían
"Contenían" means "they contained" or "they were containing."
In this sentence, 'contenían' is used to indicate that the trunks held or kept old clothes in the past. It demonstrates the conjugation of the verb 'contener' (to contain) in the imperfect tense.
Los baúles contenían ropa antigua.
The trunks contained old clothes.
Here, 'contenían' is again in the imperfect tense, implying that the action of containing was ongoing or habitual in the past regarding the boxes and the historical documents.
Las cajas contenían los documentos históricos.
The boxes contained the historical documents.
'Contenían' is used similarly, expressing in the imperfect tense that the jars held or contained a reddish liquid in the past.