This is the 227th most frequent Danish word.
måtte
"Must" or "may" (depending on context).
Here, 'måtte' means 'had to' and indicates necessity or compulsion in the past.
Jeg måtte tage bussen, da min cykel gik i stykker.
I had to take the bus as my bike broke down.
Here, 'måtte' conveys necessity as reported speech in past tense.
Han sagde, at jeg måtte vente udenfor.
He said that I had to wait outside.
In this context, 'må' (present tense) is used to express permission, and 'måtte' is its past form.