bestreite

Bestreite is a German verb in the present tense form meaning either to deny or to dispute something, or to bear the costs of something. In everyday language, bestreiten is most commonly used in the sense of contesting a claim or accusation, for example, “Der Angeklagte bestreitet die Vorwürfe.” It can also mean to pay for or cover costs, as in “Wir müssen die Kosten selbst bestreiten.”

Etymology and use: The verb is formed from be- plus streiten (to argue or fight). The basic sense developed from contending a claim or position, whether by denying it or by bearing the related financial burden. The noun corresponding to the act is Bestreitung, used in formal or legal contexts to refer to the denial or contestation of a statement, or more rarely to the act of defraying costs.

Forms and construction: Bestreiten governs a direct object for the thing being disputed or denied, and can be followed by a dass-clause to negate a proposition, as in “Ich bestreite, dass die Behauptung zutrifft.” In the sense of paying costs, it is often used with costs as the object or with a following infinitive clause, such as “die Kosten bestreiten” or “die Kosten selbst bestreiten.” Common related phrases include “eine Behauptung bestreiten” (to deny a claim) and “Kosten bestreiten/tragen” (to bear the costs).

Conjugation (present indicative): ich bestreite, du bestreitest, er/sie/es bestreitet, wir bestreiten, ihr bestreitet, sie/Sie bestreiten. The participle is bestritten; the past tense is bestritten.

See also: streiten, Bestreitung, Kosten tragen.