begot

Begot is the simple past tense and past participle of the verb beget, meaning to father a child or to generate offspring. It can also mean to cause or create something, especially a result or consequence. In modern usage, beget is the preferred form for most contexts, while begot appears primarily in historical, religious, or formal writing.

Etymology and forms: The verb beget comes from Old English and has cognates in other Germanic languages. Begot and begotten are the older inflected forms that you will encounter in traditional texts. In the King James Version and some other early modern English writings, the past tense is often rendered as begat, a form that remains recognizable in biblical and literary styles.

Usage: Begot is most common in genealogical or biblical contexts, where it is used to indicate lineage, such as "Adam begat Seth" or "Abraham begot Isaac." In everyday prose, beget or simply "father" is typically clearer and more natural. The metaphorical use—“to beget trouble,” “to beget a crisis”—appears in more literary or formal writing than in casual speech.

Limitations and notes: Begot is considered archaic in many modern contexts. Writers seeking contemporary tone usually prefer beget (as a present-tense verb) or choose a different verb such as father or generate when referring to producing offspring or outcomes. Begot remains an important term for understanding biblical genealogies and historical texts, and it helps illuminate how English has evolved in its treatment of begetting across time.