begotten

IPA/bɪˈɡet/
KK[biɡˈɔtɪn]IPA/bɪˈɡet/

begotten — verb

  • begottenpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • begottens3rd person singular
  • begottening-ing form
  • begottenedpast simple

1. to become a father by bringing a child into the world through birth — used of a

1.動詞及物C2
釋義

to become a father by bringing a child into the world through birth — used of a man in formal, old-fashioned, or religious writing

例句

According to the old records, Jakob had begotten four sons before he died at sixty.

past perfect: had begotten + [number] children

A chief who has begotten many children was traditionally given great honour in that village.

同義詞
  • father

    less formal and more common in modern English

  • sire

    very formal or literary, also used for animals

  • procreate

    more clinical and used for both sexes

文法句型

beget + child/heir/offspring

have/has/had begotten [children]

用法筆記

Frequently used in religious texts (e.g. the Bible) and genealogies. This sense applies only to a male parent — a mother is not said to beget a child.

常見錯誤

❌The mother begotten a daughter at the hospital.
✅The mother gave birth to a daughter at the hospital.
💡'beget' is only used for the father.
❌She has begotten twins.
✅She has given birth to twins.
💡'beget' refers specifically to the male role in procreation.

2. to make something start to happen or develop, especially when one event leads di

2.動詞及物C2
釋義

to make something start to happen or develop, especially when one event leads directly to another

例句

Harsh words often beget resentment that lasts for years between friends.

beget + abstract noun (resentment)

The government's new policy has begotten a wave of protests across the capital.

present perfect: has begotten [result]

同義詞
  • cause

    neutral register, much more common

  • generate

    neutral to formal, often used for results like interest or excitement

  • breed

    slightly negative connotation, as in 'breed contempt'

  • produce

    neutral and widely used

反義詞
  • prevent

    to stop something from happening

  • halt

    to bring something to an end

文法句型

beget + [result/effect]

have/has/had begotten [consequence]

用法筆記

Common in the proverb 'Violence begets violence.' The short, aphoristic structure — 'X begets Y' — is very frequent and can be used by learners as a ready-made pattern.

常見錯誤

❌The rain begotten the flowers to grow.
✅The rain caused the flowers to grow.
💡'beget' is not used with an infinitive complement ('to grow'). Use 'cause + object + to-infinitive' instead.
❌The loud noise begotten a headache.
✅The loud noise gave me a headache.
💡'beget' is too formal for everyday causes; use simpler verbs like 'cause' or 'lead to'.

begotten — adjective