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(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 s-x, 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” (cl-ss 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.