engendre

Engendre is the third-person singular present indicative form of the French verb engendrer. The infinitive engendrer means to generate, beget, or produce something, whether concrete or abstract. Engendre is used to describe a process that causes or brings something into existence, such as a result, a effect, or a new condition.

Usage and meaning

Engendre can be applied to biological reproduction as well as to non-biological generation. It is common in scientific, philosophical, economic, and journalistic writing. Examples include: “Cette mutation engendre une maladie,” meaning the mutation causes a disease; “Le processus engendre des coûts supplémentaires,” meaning it produces additional costs; or “Cette décision engendre des questions éthiques.” The verb emphasizes causation or generation rather than mere existence.

Etymology and related terms

Engendrer comes from Old French engendrer, which ultimately derives from Latin generare, “to beget, to produce.” The noun engendrement, meaning the act of begetting or generation, is a related term used to refer to the process or result of engendering.

Conjugation and usage notes

Engendre is part of regular -er verb conjugation in many forms: j’engendre, tu engendres, nous engendrons, vous engendrez, ils engendrent. The past participle is engendré, used with auxiliary avoir in compound tenses. The term typically conveys a causal linkage and is preferred when describing how something is brought into existence or how a consequence arises.

See also

Engendrement (the act or process of begetting or generating), engendrer (infinitive form).