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loro dovettero

had to, were forced to

→ dovere
auxiliary · 3rd-person plural, past tense Rare #38,629
had to, were forced to Past historic form, mainly used in writing and storytelling; in everyday speech, Italians usually use hanno dovuto.
IT: Dovettero partire presto.
EN: They had to leave early.
Conjugation of dovere
Indicative past
SingularPlural
First dovetti dovemmo
Third dovette dovettero

Dovettero andare da sole.

They had to go alone.

Dovettero cambiare i loro piani.

They had to change their plans.

I miei colleghi dovettero esaminare ogni singola possibilità.

My colleagues had to examine every single possibility.

— Non dirlo a nessuno (2006)

Loro dovettero arrampicarsi su un muro alto sei piedi.

They had to climb a six-foot high wall.

Loro dovettero sottomettersi alla forza superiore del nemico.

They had to submit to the superior strength of the enemy.

Rima e Skura dovettero viaggiare su un autobus.

Rima and Skura had to travel on a bus.