bregðast

Bregðast is an Icelandic verb of reflexive form that means to react or respond to something, and can also mean to oppose or deviate from a course when used with certain prepositions. The core sense is a turning or adjustment in response to an external factor, rather than a simple action directed at an object.

In daily use the verb typically appears with prepositional phrases. With við, it means to react to something: e.g., hún bregst við fréttinni. With gegn, it can express opposition: e.g., ríkisstjórnin bregst gegn mótmælunum. The construct is normally intransitive and relies on the prepositional phrase to specify what is being responded to or opposed.

Etymology and related forms: bregðast derives from older Icelandic forms connected to the idea of turning or bending. It is related to other Germanic terms that carry notions of turning toward or away in response to stimuli.

Usage notes: Bregðast við is the most common formulation for reacting to events or information, while bregðast gegn is used for actively opposing policies, plans, or arguments. The verb is relatively frequent in news, political discourse, and formal writing, as well as in everyday speech, and it is conjugated as a standard Icelandic verb with irregularities typical of many core verbs.

Examples: “Hún bregst við fréttinni með kaldhæðni.” “Ríkisstjórnin bregst gegn mótmælunum með nýjum reglugerðum.” These illustrate the core senses of reacting and opposing within real-world contexts.