beget etymology

Etymology

  • Old English: begitan "to produce, bring forth"
  • Proto-Germanic: *bigitanan "to generate, procreate"
  • Proto-Indo-European: *bʰeg- "to give birth" (same root as Latin _fētus_ "offspring")

Meaning and Origin

The verb "beget" means to produce or give birth to something. It is most commonly used in the context of biological reproduction, referring to the role of the father in creating a child. However, it can also be used figuratively to describe the creation or origin of something abstract, such as an idea or concept.

The word "beget" has been in use since the Old English period. It is derived from the Proto-Germanic root *bigitanan, which also meant "to generate" or "procreate." This root in turn is thought to be related to the Proto-Indo-European root *bʰeg-, meaning "to give birth."

The connection between the meanings of "beget" and "birth" is clear in the etymology of the word. The Proto-Indo-European root *bʰeg- is also the source of the Latin word _fētus_, meaning "offspring." This suggests that the concept of "begetting" has been closely linked to the idea of birth and reproduction for thousands of years.

beget relate terms

  • beget

    Etymology Old English begitan to produce bring forth Proto Germanic bigitanan to

  • forget

    Forget Etymology Old English forgietan from Proto Germanic for getan to forget neg

  • begat

    Etymology Begat is derived from Old English begetan which in turn comes from the Pr

  • beget

    Etymology Old English begitan to produce bring forth Proto Germanic bigitanan to

  • engender

    Etymology and Origin The word engender comes from the Old French word engendrer whi

  • progenitor

    Etymology Latin progenitor ancestor forefather Meaning A person or thing from w

  • primogenitor

    Etymology Primitive Root Latin primus first Latin genitor parent Meaning

  • benign

    Etymology Latin benignus Meaning kind gentle favorable Origin Proto Indo E

  • genuine

    Etymology The word genuine derives from the Latin word genuinus which means native

  • father

    Etymology The word father comes from the Proto Indo European root ph₂tḗr which a

  • rise

    Etymology The word rise comes from the Old English verb rīsan which means to ascen

  • sire

    Etymology The word sire comes from the Old English word sire which is derived from