to challenge / contest
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to challenge / contest
To legally dispute or call something into question with the aim of having it declared invalid. This often applies to elections, wills, or contracts.
Die Opposition will das Wahlergebnis gerichtlich anfechten.
The opposition wants to legally challenge the election result.
The verb 'anfechten' (to challenge/contest) is inseparable. The prefix 'an-' remains firmly attached to the verb 'fechten' in all sentence forms and conjugations.
Er focht die Entscheidung seines Chefs an.
He challenged his boss's decision.
The word is derived from the verb 'fechten' (to fence/fight), which means 'kämpfen' (to fight). So 'anfechten' (to challenge/contest) literally means to fight against something in order to bring it down.
Die Firma ficht den Vertrag wegen eines Formfehlers an.
The company is contesting the contract because of a formal error.
This legal meaning is often used with formal documents or official results. Typical phrases are: 'ein Wahlergebnis anfechten' (to challenge an election result), 'ein Testament anfechten' (to contest a will), 'eine Entscheidung anfechten' (to challenge a decision).
Es ist möglich, das Prüfungsergebnis anzufechten.
It is possible to challenge the exam result.
The meaning 'jemanden seelisch belasten' (to burden someone emotionally) is rare today and belongs in a literary or religious context. It is hardly used in everyday language.
Die Zweifel fochten ihn Tag und Nacht an.
Doubts troubled him day and night.
to try / taste
'versuchen' and 'anfechten' can both, in an elevated or literary sense, have to do with temptation, inner unrest, or doubts. However, this connection is not the normal everyday use. 'versuchen' can mean that something tempts someone into a wrong or rash action. 'anfechten' can mean that doubts, worries, or a temptation trouble someone inwardly. Learners may confuse the words because 'anfechten' in this old meaning sounds similar to 'in Versuchung bringen' (to tempt / lead into temptation). In modern German, however, 'anfechten' is usually a legal word, for example with a contract or an election. For normal 'probieren' (to try) or 'einen Versuch machen' (to make an attempt), you do not say 'anfechten'.
Nach dem Streit fochten sie wieder alte Zweifel an.
After the argument, old doubts troubled them again.
Das schnelle Geld versuchte ihn, obwohl er wusste, dass der Plan gefährlich war.
The promise of quick money tempted him, even though he knew the plan was dangerous.