beget

[ bih-get ]

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).

   Synonyms: father, breed, sire, spawn

2. to cause; produce as an effect:

   a belief that power begets power.

   Synonyms: generate, effect, engender, occasion

beget

/ bɪˈɡɛt /

verb

1. to father
2. to cause or create

Derived Forms

• beˈgetter, noun

Other Words From

• be·get·ter noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of beget¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of beget¹

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

Related Words

• bring about
• engender
• sire