An user French
says…

L’eau  ne
🚫
Adverb
  pouvait
Verb
  donc
Adverb
  pénétrer
Verb
.

So the water could not penetrate.
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ne

  1. not (used alone to negate a verb; now chiefly with only a few particular verbs: see usage notes)
  2. not, no (used before a verb, with a coordinating negative element usually following; see Usage Notes, below)
  3. Used in a subordinate clause before a subjunctive verb (especially when the main verb expresses doubt or fear), to provide extra overtones of doubt or uncertainty (but not negating its verb); the so-called "pleonastic" or "expletive" ne.
  4. In comparative clauses usually translated with the positive sense of the subsequent negative

New
pouvait

third-person singular imperfect indicative of pouvoir

New
donc

therefore, consequently; thus

New
pénétrer

  1. to enter, to get in (to)
  2. to penetrate
  3. to see through somebody's lies or secret plans
  4. to penetrate (to enter sexually; to engage in penetrative sex)

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