beget

[ bih-get ]
See synonyms for: begetbegatbegettingbegotten on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),be·got or (Archaic) be·gat; be·got·ten or be·got; be·get·ting.
  1. (especially of a male parent) to procreate or generate (offspring).

  2. to cause; produce as an effect: a belief that power begets power.

Origin of beget

1
First recorded before 1000; Middle English begeten (see be-, get); replacing Middle English biyeten, Old English begetan; cognate with Gothic bigitan, Old High German bigezzan

Other words for beget

Other words from beget

  • be·get·ter, noun

Words Nearby beget

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How to use beget in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for beget

beget

/ (bɪˈɡɛt) /


verb-gets, -getting, -got, -gat, -gotten or -got (tr)
  1. to father

  2. to cause or create

Origin of beget

1
Old English begietan; related to Old Saxon bigetan, Old High German pigezzan, Gothic bigitan to find; see be-, get

Derived forms of beget

  • begetter, noun

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