défendait

"Défendait" is the third-person singular past tense of the French verb "défendre," which means "to defend" in English. This verb is part of the first conjugation group in French, and its past participle is "défendu." The verb "défendre" is used to express the action of protecting someone or something from harm, attack, or criticism. It can also refer to the act of presenting a legal defense or arguing in favor of a particular cause.

The verb "défendre" is commonly used in various contexts, including legal, military, and everyday situations. For example, a lawyer might "défendre" a client in court, a soldier might "défendre" a position, or a parent might "défendre" their child's actions. The reflexive form of the verb, "se défendre," is used to express the action of defending oneself.

In the past tense, "défendait" is used to describe an action that was completed in the past. For example, "Il défendait son pays avec courage" translates to "He defended his country with courage." The verb can also be used in the imperfect tense, "défendait," to describe an ongoing action in the past, such as "Il défendait son pays pendant la guerre" which means "He was defending his country during the war."

The verb "défendre" is a versatile and commonly used word in the French language, with a wide range of applications in both formal and informal contexts. Its past tense form, "défendait," is an essential part of the French verb system and is used to convey a completed action in the past.