gestritten

Gestritten is the past participle of the German verb streiten, which means to argue, quarrel, or dispute. It is used to describe a completed argument or dispute and can refer to conflicts between people or to heated discussions about a topic.

Usage and grammar: Gestritten appears with the auxiliary haben to form perfect tenses. For example, Ich habe gestritten or Wir haben gestritten. The phrase sich streiten is common for reciprocal or mutual disputes: Sie streiten sich; Wir haben uns gestritten. When specifying the topic of the argument, the preposition über is often used, as in Wir haben uns über die Frage gestritten.

Etymology and related forms: The verb streiten has its roots in Old High German strītan and is cognate with related Germanic forms such as Dutch strijden. The noun Streit denotes a quarrel or dispute, and related adjectives include streitlustig (quarrelsome) and streitig (contentious, disputed).

Typical usage notes: Streiten describes verbal conflict rather than physical fighting, though the word can be used in broader senses of conflict or contention. It is common in both spoken and written German and appears in a wide range of contexts, from casual disagreements to formal debates. The past participle gestritten is less frequent in everyday speech than the simple verb forms, but it remains standard for describing completed arguments.