Begetting
(especially of a male parent) to procreate or generate (offspring).
to cause; produce as an effect:
a belief that power begets power.
Contemporary Examples
But it takes a special kind of ease and openness for all this begetting to take place.
Why Chicago Is Now America’s Hottest City Raymond Sokolov February 27, 2011
Which raises the chilling question: Are the arsons in Coatesville begetting more arsons?
The Town That Won’t Stop Burning Gregory Gilderman, Jeff Deeney May 13, 2009
They changed American music forever, begetting more kings: Benny Goodman, the “King of Swing” and Nat “King” Cole.
Obamaville Don Rose November 5, 2008
Historical Examples
For true it is that the one bright male germ which went to your begetting was drawn from the blood of the father.
Fantasia of the Unconscious D. H. Lawrence
Their wives are foolish, and wicked are their children; accursed is their begetting.
Select Masterpieces of Biblical Literature Various
He might thus do far more good to his tribe than by begetting offspring with a tendency to inherit his own high character.
The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex, Vol. I (1st edition) Charles Darwin
There’s nothing that our dear civilization punishes as it does begetting children.
The Trail of the Hawk Sinclair Lewis
His father is said to have died a centenarian, after begetting a family of some twenty children.
Nooks and Corners of Pembrokeshire H. Thornhill Timmins
It is only in the begetting of men that breeding from the worst stocks may be said to be the rule.
The Truth About Woman C. Gasquoine Hartley
Marriage and the begetting and care of children, is the very ground substance in the life of the community.
The New Machiavelli Herbert George Wells
verb (transitive) -gets, -getting, -got, -gat, -gotten, -got
to father
to cause or create
v.
Old English begietan “to get by effort, find, acquire, attain, seize” (class V strong verb, past tense begeat, past participle begeaton), from be- + get (v.). Sense of “to procreate” is from c.1200. Related to Old High German pigezzan, Gothic bigitan “to get, obtain.” Related: Begot; begotten.
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a person who begs alms or lives by begging. a penniless person. a wretched fellow; rogue: the surly beggar who collects the rents. a child or youngster (usually preceded by little): a sudden urge to hug the little beggar. to reduce to utter poverty; impoverish: The family had been beggared by the war. to cause […]
- Beggar description
Defy or outdo any possible description, as in The stage set was so elaborate, it beggared description. This term, alluding to the idea that words are insufficient to do something justice, was already used by Shakespeare in Antony and Cleopatra (2:2), “For her own person It beggared all description.” Historical Examples The events that occurred […]
- Befell
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- Befallen
to happen or occur. Archaic. to come, as by right. to happen to, especially by chance or fate. Contemporary Examples If someone were to ask me what disaster this was that had befallen my life, I might ask if they wanted the story or the truth. If You Read This Book, You Will Not Get […]
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