sequebantur

Sequebantur is a Latin verb form representing the imperfect tense of the deponent verb sequi, meaning to follow. As a deponent verb, sequor/sequi forms are passive in shape but active in meaning, so sequebantur translates as “they were following” or “they used to follow.”

Morphology and grammar: sequebantur is the third-person plural, imperfect, indicative form in the deponent conjugation. The ending -ebantur identifies the imperfect passive pattern, while the verb’s meaning remains active because sequi is a deponent verb. The infinitive of the base verb is sequi, with the principal parts sequor, sequi, secutus sum.

Usage: Sequebantur appears in narrative or descriptive past contexts to describe ongoing past action. It can take a direct object when the action is transitive in sense (for example, following someone or something), but as with many deponent forms, the sense is active despite the passive morphology. It is commonly found in classical Latin prose and poetry.

Example: Milites sequebantur duces. Translation: The soldiers were following the leaders.

Related forms and notes: Other persons and tenses of sequor/sequi use similar deponent endings (for example, sequebaris, sequebatur, sequebamur, sequebamini, sequebantur in the imperfect). The form demonstrates how Latin deponent verbs use passive morphology to express actions that are active in meaning. The verb’s root is sequ-, derived from sequi, with the participle form secutus used to derive other tenses and voices.