begot: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2/RareLiterary, Archaic, Formal, Religious
Quick answer
What does “begot” mean?
The simple past tense and past participle of the verb 'beget', primarily meaning 'to father or sire offspring' or, in an extended sense, 'to cause or give rise to something'.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The simple past tense and past participle of the verb 'beget', primarily meaning 'to father or sire offspring' or, in an extended sense, 'to cause or give rise to something'.
Most commonly used in literary, historical, or religious contexts to indicate procreation or lineage. In modern usage, it often appears metaphorically to describe the origin or creation of abstract concepts, ideas, or situations (e.g., 'fear begot violence').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is equally archaic and formal in both varieties.
Connotations
Strongly associated with the King James Bible and formal historical writing in both cultures.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in contemporary use for both, slightly higher in religious or historical texts.
Grammar
How to Use “begot” in a Sentence
[Subject] begot [Direct Object] (e.g., The king begot an heir).[Subject] begot [Direct Object] from/with [Indirect Object] (archaic, e.g., He begot a son with his wife).Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “begot” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The ancient chronicle stated the king begot seven sons.
- His arrogance begot a host of enemies.
- The scandal begot a new era of transparency regulations.
American English
- The historical record shows he begot children with two wives.
- The economic crisis begot widespread social unrest.
- The invention of the printing press begot a revolution in communication.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, literary, or religious studies when quoting or analyzing older texts.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would sound deliberately archaic or humorous.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “begot”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “begot”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “begot”
- Using 'begot' in modern, casual contexts.
- Confusing it with 'begat' (which is purely past tense, not participle).
- Misspelling as 'begott' or 'begoted'.
- Using it without a direct object (intransitively).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Very rarely, and almost exclusively in literary, historical, or religious contexts. In everyday language, it sounds archaic.
'Begot' is the past tense and past participle of 'beget'. 'Begat' is an archaic form used only as the simple past tense, famously found in the King James Bible (e.g., 'Abraham begat Isaac').
Yes, but only in a figurative or literary sense. It is used metaphorically to mean 'caused' or 'gave rise to', as in 'Poverty begot despair.'
For literal meaning: 'fathered' or 'sired'. For figurative meaning: 'caused', 'produced', 'led to', 'engendered', or 'spawned'.
The simple past tense and past participle of the verb 'beget', primarily meaning 'to father or sire offspring' or, in an extended sense, 'to cause or give rise to something'.
Begot is usually literary, archaic, formal, religious in register.
Begot: in British English it is pronounced /bɪˈɡɒt/, and in American English it is pronounced /bɪˈɡɑːt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Like father, like son (conceptually related, as 'the father begot the son').”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'BE'ing 'GOT' in the past: A father *was* and a child *was got* (obtained) – he BEGOT the child.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROCREATION IS CREATION (e.g., 'The theory begot a new field of study.'). LINEAGE IS A CHAIN (e.g., 'Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob...').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'begot' MOST appropriate?