verb
begat
bee-GAT
Begat (verb) means an old-fashioned past tense of "beget," meaning to father a child or bring something into existence. Example: “The Bible famously lists who begat whom across many generations.”
verb
1
An old-fashioned past tense of "beget," meaning to father a child or bring something into existence.
"The Bible famously lists who begat whom across many generations."
How to use begat
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn archaic way of saying "fathered" or "gave rise to," mostly known from old Biblical language.
When to use it
Archaic — used today mainly in jokes, parody, or direct quotation of old texts.
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Word forms
- Plural
- begats
- Third person singular
- begats
- Past tense
- begatted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The Bible famously lists who _____ whom across many generations.
Frequently asked questions
What does “begat” mean?
The word “begat” means an old-fashioned past tense of "beget," meaning to father a child or bring something into existence. In plain terms, an archaic way of saying "fathered" or "gave rise to," mostly known from old Biblical language.
How do you pronounce “begat”?
“Begat” is pronounced bee-GAT (/biˈɡæt/ in IPA).
How do you use “begat” in a sentence?
Here is “begat” used in a sentence: “The Bible famously lists who begat whom across many generations.”
What part of speech is “begat”?
“Begat” is a verb.
