arrêtait

/a.ʁɛ.tɛ/arrêter
1.
verbInd1stImpSing3

stopped

was stopping

ceased

Il n'arrêtait pas de pleuvoir hier.

It didn't stop raining yesterday.

2.
verbInd1stImpSing3

arrested (took into custody)

was arresting

La police arrêtait tous les suspects du quartier.

The police were arresting all the suspects in the neighborhood.