beget

American  

[bih-get] / bɪˈgɛt /

verb (used with object)

begot, begat, begotten, begot, begetting

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

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beget British  

/ bɪˈɡɛt /

verb

1. to father

2. to cause or create

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Other Word Forms

• begetter noun

Etymology

Origin of beget

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

Example Sentences

In markets, strength often begets more strength, or, as technicians like to say, trends once in motion tend to remain that way more likely than they are to reverse.

From Barron's

Worse: The tiny microphone begets equally small questions.

From Salon

It’s unclear whether filmed Broadway shows like “Merrily” can become the new concert film, but as always in showbiz, success begets success.

From Los Angeles Times

This year also begat “Billy the Kid” from “Vikings” creator Michael Hirst, which failed to hold its storytelling reins as securely as these other titles.

From Salon

The need to protect past lies begets new lies.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bring about
• engender
• sire