Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
verb (used with object), be·got or (Archaic) be·gat; be·got·ten or be·got; be·get·ting.
- (especially of a male parent) to procreate or generate (offspring).
- to cause; produce as an effect: a belief that power begets power.
verb -gets, -getting, -got, -gat, -gotten or -got (tr)
- to father
- to cause or create
mid-15c., agent noun from beget.
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.