begotten

Begotten is the past participle of the verb beget, meaning to father or generate offspring. It is used principally in formal, archaic, or religious contexts to indicate that someone has fathered or produced offspring.

Origins and usage: Begotten derives from Old English begetan. The past participle form begotten, and the related simple past forms begat or begot, appear in older and literary English. In modern usage, "begotten" tends to be reserved for formal or biblical language, while "born" or "produced" are more common in everyday speech.

Religious usage: In Christian theology and older Bible translations, "begotten" appears in phrases such as "the only begotten Son of God." Modern translations often render this as "the only Son" or "one and only Son" to reflect contemporary language. The term carries connotations of a unique origin or divine generation rather than generic birth.

Cultural references: Begotten has also appeared as a title, most notably for the 1922 experimental film Begotten by E. Elias Merhige. The film is recognized in film history for its stark, mythic imagery and non-narrative structure, and it has influenced later avant-garde and horror works.

Other usage: In literature and genealogical contexts, begotten can convey that someone has fathered a child. As a grammatical form, it supports perfect tenses: "he has begotten several children" or "she had begotten a daughter before the accident." Today the word is less common in everyday speech but remains relevant in historical, theological, and literary contexts.