Ersteigern

Ersteigern is a German verb meaning to acquire something by bidding at an auction, i.e., to win an item by offering the highest bid. The action is typically associated with auctions for art, antiques, stamps, coins, or real estate sold at public sale. The object of the verb is usually in the accusative, as in “Ich habe das Gemälde ersteigert.” The noun form related to the act is Ersteigerung (the act of bidding to acquire) and the bidder can be referred to as der Ersteiger or die Ersteigerin.

Etymology and usage context: Ersteigern is formed from the prefix er- plus steeped roots related to rising or ascending in bidding. The term emphasizes the successful outcome of an auction bid rather than a private purchase or negotiation. It is almost exclusively used in the context of auctions and competitive bidding.

Grammatical notes: Ersteigern is a regular verb and takes haben as its auxiliary in the perfect tense. Example: Ich habe das Gemälde ersteigert. Present tense forms include ich ersteigere, du ersteigerst, er/sie/es ersteigert; wir ersteigern, ihr ersteigert, sie/Sie ersteigern. The simple past is typically verlehnt as ich ersteigerte; in everyday speech the Perfekt form is more common.

See also: Auktion, Versteigerung, Gebot, Ersteigerung.

In summary, ersteigern describes the act of obtaining goods through a bidding process at an auction, highlighting the bidder’s success in a competitive sale.

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