erstreiten
Translation
to win through struggle, to obtain by litigation, to achieve by fighting
Examples
Sie haben sich das Recht erstritten.
They won the right through struggle.
Der Sieg wurde hart erstritten.
The victory was hard-won.
Grammar Patterns
((sich dat.)) ((sth. acc.)) to win sth. for oneself through struggle She won herself a place on the team.
((sth. acc.)) to win sth. through struggle The workers won higher wages through striking.
Similar Words
erkämpfen (to win by fighting), durchsetzen (to enforce)
Etymology
From the prefix 'er-' (indicating achievement) + 'streiten' (to fight, argue). Literally 'to achieve by fighting'.
Memory Tips
Think of a legal 'strife' (Streit) to 'earn' (er-) a victory.