il permettait

allowed, permitted

→ permettre
permett allow, permit + ait il/elle imperfect conjugation
verb · 3rd-person singular, imperfect tense Rare #48,134
allowed, permitted In this form, it can also mean “made it possible” or “enabled,” depending on context.
FR: Le règlement permettait aux enfants de jouer ici.
EN: The rules allowed the children to play here.
Conjugation of permettre
Indicative imperfect
SingularPlural
Third permettait —

Il ne permettait à personne de s'immiscer dans ses affaires personnelles.

He didn't allow anyone to interfere in his personal affairs.

En ce temps-là, je n'avais qu'un petit revenu qui ne me permettait pas de vivre.

At that time, I had only a small income that wasn’t enough to live on.

Et si le secret caché là-dedans le permettait ?

What if the secret hidden within made it possible?

— Zootopie 2 (2025)

Il ne se permettait aucun geste superflu.

He allowed himself no unnecessary movements.

On faisait de la musique, on dansait même, quand la mer le permettait.

We used to make music, even dance, when the sea allowed it.