Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *bʰer-
Proto-Indo-European *-tis
Proto-Indo-European *bʰértisder.
Proto-Germanic *burþiz
Old Norse burðrbor.
Middle English birthe
English birth
From Middle English birthe (1250), from earlier burthe, burde, from Old Norse burðr, byrd (Old Swedish byrth, Swedish börd), replacing Old English ġebyrd (rare variant byrþ), equivalent to bear + -th (thus a piecewise doublet of berth). The Old Norse is from Proto-Germanic *burdiz (compare Old Frisian berde, berd); Old English ġebyrd is from prefixed *gaburþiz (compare Dutch geboorte, German Geburt), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰŕ̥tis (compare Latin fors (“luck”), Old Irish brith), from *bʰer- (“to carry, bear”). More at bear.
Meanings
(not-comparable) A familial relationship established by childbirth.
Her birth father left when she was a baby; she was raised by her mother and stepfather.
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *bʰer-
Proto-Indo-European *-tis
Proto-Indo-European *bʰértisder.
Proto-Germanic *burþiz
Old Norse burðrbor.
Middle English birthe
English birth
From Middle English birthe (1250), from earlier burthe, burde, from Old Norse burðr, byrd (Old Swedish byrth, Swedish börd), replacing Old English ġebyrd (rare variant byrþ), equivalent to bear + -th (thus a piecewise doublet of berth). The Old Norse is from Proto-Germanic *burdiz (compare Old Frisian berde, berd); Old English ġebyrd is from prefixed *gaburþiz (compare Dutch geboorte, German Geburt), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰŕ̥tis (compare Latin fors (“luck”), Old Irish brith), from *bʰer- (“to carry, bear”). More at bear.
Meanings
(uncountable) The process of childbearing; the beginning of life; the emergence of a human baby or other viviparous animal offspring from the mother's body into the environment.
(countable) An instance of childbirth.
Intersex babies account for roughly one per cent of all births.
In Greece a child was given its name on the seventh or tenth day after birth. 1945, E[lizabeth] G[idley] Withycombe, “Introduction”, in The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page xiii:
(countable) A beginning or start; a point of origin.
the birth of an empire
(uncountable) The circumstances of one's background, ancestry, or upbringing.
Lucy […] had no fortune, which, though a minor evil, was an evil; and she had no birth, in the high-life sense of the word, which was a greater evil. 1861, Anthony Trollope, Framley Parsonage:
He was of noble birth, but fortune had not favored him.
without reference to birth, but solely for their qualifications 1843, William H. Prescott, History Of The Conquest Of Mexico And History Of The Conquest Of Peru, The Modern Library, page 42:
(countable, uncountable) That which is born.
Others hatch their eggs and tend the birth till it is able to shift for itself. 1761, Joseph Addison, The Works of Joseph Addison, volume 3, John Baskerville, page 49:
That poets are far rarer births than kings. 1692, Ben Jonson, “Epigrams”, in The Works of Ben Jonson, page 288:
hi पैदाइश (instance of childbirth) · te జన్మించుట (instance of childbirth) · ka დაბადება (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · got 𐌲𐌰𐌱𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌸𐍃 (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · bn পয়দায়েশ (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · uk наро́дження (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ta பிறவி (beginning or start; a point of origin) · ml ജനനം (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ta பிறப்பு (circumstances of one's background) · la nascentia (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · sw zaliw (beginning or start; a point of origin) · ckb لەدایکبوون (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ja 誕生 (beginning or start; a point of origin) · nl afkomst (circumstances of one's background) · te జననము (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ro născare (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ur تولد (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · el γέννα (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · scn parturienza (instance of childbirth) · es nacencia (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · sip སྐྱེ་བ (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · vi sự ra đời (beginning or start; a point of origin) · amf áɗima (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · bg рожде́ние (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · nl geboorte (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · lv dzemdēšana (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ky төрөлүш (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ru нача́ло (beginning or start; a point of origin) · ar تَوَلُّد (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ms kelahiran (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ur ولادت (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ur پیدائش (instance of childbirth) · mk зародиш (beginning or start; a point of origin) · nl geboorte (beginning or start; a point of origin) · ta பிறப்பு (instance of childbirth) · fi sukujuuri (circumstances of one's background) · ar بدايَة (beginning or start; a point of origin) · ca naixement (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · scn ncuminzu (beginning or start; a point of origin) · oc naissença (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · la partus (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ht nesans (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · el καταγωγή (circumstances of one's background) · fy berte (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · be ро́ды (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · hy ծնունդ (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ang ġebyrd (instance of childbirth) · sq lindje (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ia nascentia (beginning or start; a point of origin) · ko 출생 (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · bg произход (circumstances of one's background) · aa ubka (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ckb لەدایکبوون (beginning or start; a point of origin) · uk наро́дження (instance of childbirth) · es alumbramiento (instance of childbirth) · lt gimimas (instance of childbirth) · ta பிறப்பு (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · sh rođénje (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ca naixença (beginning or start; a point of origin) · sv födelse (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · fi lisääntyminen (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · sv början (beginning or start; a point of origin) · be нараджэ́нне (instance of childbirth) · kk туу (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · nn fødsel (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · cmn 出生 (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · it parto (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · grc γένεσις (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · mk породување (instance of childbirth) · pt parto (instance of childbirth) · mi whānautanga (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · sa उत्पाद (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · el τοκετός (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · pl narodzenie (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · pam kebayitan (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · es nación (circumstances of one's background) · mi wherereitanga (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · vi đầu (beginning or start; a point of origin) · it nascita (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · pt nascimento (beginning or start; a point of origin) · hi जन्म (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · be нараджэ́нне (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · sl porod (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ar وِلَادَة (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · nds-de Geboort (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ro naștere (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · it parto (instance of childbirth) · la nativitas (instance of childbirth) · sh rožastvo (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · eo naskiĝo (instance of childbirth) · it nascita (circumstances of one's background) · sk narodenie (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · cs porod (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · xsv gimsenis (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · te జన్మము (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ja 勃興 (beginning or start; a point of origin) · sw zaliwa (circumstances of one's background) · scn natura (circumstances of one's background) · br ganedigezh (beginning or start; a point of origin) · sa जन्म (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · pt origem (beginning or start; a point of origin) · ur تولد (instance of childbirth) · fi alku (beginning or start; a point of origin) · ang ġebyrd (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · da fødsel (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · oc naissença (beginning or start; a point of origin) · fur nassince (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · scn partu (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · th กำเนิด (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · egy ms-w-t (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ota طوغمه (beginning or start; a point of origin) · nn fødsel (instance of childbirth) · fi syntymä (beginning or start; a point of origin) · scn urìggini (beginning or start; a point of origin) · fr naissance (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · la nativitas (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · cs zrod (beginning or start; a point of origin) · ar مِيلَاد (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · te పుట్టుక (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · mk потекло (circumstances of one's background) · hy սկիզբ (beginning or start; a point of origin) · hi जन्म (beginning or start; a point of origin) · ms keputeraan (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · hu születés (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · th การเกิด (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · es nacimiento (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ga breith (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · hi जन्म (instance of childbirth) · rup amintare (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · scn partu (instance of childbirth) · mk род (circumstances of one's background) · nb fødsel (instance of childbirth) · ny kubadwa (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ja 誕生 (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · hu születés (instance of childbirth) · ja 成立 (beginning or start; a point of origin) · es nacimiento (beginning or start; a point of origin) · ug تۇغۇلۇش (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · mk раѓање (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · mk раѓање (beginning or start; a point of origin) · fr accouchement (instance of childbirth) · hu szülés (childbearing) (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · az doğulma (instance of childbirth) · sga breth (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ro origine (beginning or start; a point of origin) · hy ծնունդ (instance of childbirth) · uk поло́ги (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ota طوغمه (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ar وِلَادَة (beginning or start; a point of origin) · ps تولد (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · wa vinowe å monde (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · cmn 誕生 /诞生 (beginning or start; a point of origin) · es abolengo (circumstances of one's background) · cy genedigaeth (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · bg ра́ждане (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · nl bevalling (instance of childbirth) · pl narodziny (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · he לידה (instance of childbirth) · it nascita (beginning or start; a point of origin) · el τοκετός (instance of childbirth) · tk dogluş (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · es parición (instance of childbirth) · hi जनन (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · cs narození (instance of childbirth) · fi syntymä (instance of childbirth) · fur part (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · sq nis (beginning or start; a point of origin) · ko 탄생 (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · gl nacenza (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · la orīgo (beginning or start; a point of origin) · az doğum (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · fa تولد (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · grc τόκος (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · grc τόκος (instance of childbirth) · sk pôvod (circumstances of one's background) · es nacimiento (circumstances of one's background) · cs původ (circumstances of one's background) · ru ро́ды (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · or ଜନ୍ମ (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ca naixença (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · de Geburt (beginning or start; a point of origin) · is fæðing (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · pt nascimento (instance of childbirth) · hy ծնունդ (circumstances of one's background) · tg таваллуд (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · lt gimdymas (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · es parto (instance of childbirth) · es parto (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · de Abstammung (circumstances of one's background) · sw zaliwa (instance of childbirth) · mk почеток (beginning or start; a point of origin) · mk породување (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · vi sự sinh đẻ (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ru рожде́ние (beginning or start; a point of origin) · scn nàscita (beginning or start; a point of origin) · ur ولادت (instance of childbirth) · cs narození (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · txb camel (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ky туулуш (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · et sünd (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ta பிறப்பு (beginning or start; a point of origin) · es estirpe (circumstances of one's background) · nds-de Geboort (beginning or start; a point of origin) · sk pôrod (instance of childbirth) · pl urodzenie (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · sk zrod (beginning or start; a point of origin) · pt nascimento (circumstances of one's background) · fi suku (circumstances of one's background) · ang ġebyrd (beginning or start; a point of origin) · az doğuluş (instance of childbirth) · scn nàscita (circumstances of one's background) · uz tugʻilish (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · la partus (instance of childbirth) · az doğum (instance of childbirth) · scn nascimentu (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · mk раѓање (instance of childbirth) · gl nacemento (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ru рожде́ние (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · bg нача́ло (beginning or start; a point of origin) · ca part (instance of childbirth) · sv börd (circumstances of one's background) · io nasko (instance of childbirth) · io nasko (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · fa زایش (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · te వంశము (beginning or start; a point of origin) · pl poród (instance of childbirth) · br ganedigezh (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · la nascentia (instance of childbirth) · pt nascimento (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ur پیدائش (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · el γέννηση (beginning or start; a point of origin) · vi gốc (circumstances of one's background) · mi tīmatanga (beginning or start; a point of origin) · lv dzemdības (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ang ġebyrd (circumstances of one's background) · ja 出生 (circumstances of one's background) · es orígen (beginning or start; a point of origin) · sl rojstvo (beginning or start; a point of origin) · sk narodenie (instance of childbirth) · es cuna (circumstances of one's background) · ms keputerian (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · de Geburt (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ca part (beginning or start; a point of origin) · km កំណើត (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · mi whānautanga (instance of childbirth) · grc γένεσις (beginning or start; a point of origin) · de Geburt (instance of childbirth) · ru рожде́ние (instance of childbirth) · ro început (beginning or start; a point of origin) · nb fødsel (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · id kelahiran (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · sh рође́ње (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · bg потекло (circumstances of one's background) · lo ການເກິດ (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · arz ميلاد (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · sw zaa (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · vi dòng dõi (circumstances of one's background) · xto cmol (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · fa تولد (instance of childbirth) · el γέννα (instance of childbirth) · bg рожде́ние (instance of childbirth) · wa skepiaedje (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ssy ubka (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · fi syntyperä (circumstances of one's background) · hi पैदाइश (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · fur part (instance of childbirth) · hu származás (circumstances of one's background) · fi synnyttäminen (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ca naixença (circumstances of one's background) · bg ра́ждане (instance of childbirth) · he לֵדָה (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ja 出生 (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · tr doğum (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · sl rojstvo (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ru зарожде́ние (beginning or start; a point of origin) · scn nàscita (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ckb سەرەتا (beginning or start; a point of origin) · pam kebaitan (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ar مَوْلِد (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · kmr zayin (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ta பிறவி (instance of childbirth) · fo føðing (process of childbearing; beginning of life) · ia nascentia (instance of childbirth)
From Middle English birthen, birðen, from the noun (see above).
Meanings
(transitive) To bear or give birth to (a child).
She cites some recent examples from the papers: “I birthed two babies in rapid succession”; Beyoncé “birthed her twins”; while somewhere else in the same paper a woman proudly proclaimed: “I birthed a calf!”. She ends: “My objection to the American usage is that it seems to stress rather crudely the muscular process of bringing forth a baby, whereas the graceful British English term ‘to give birth to’ is much more dignified!” 2023 March 5, Jonathan Bouquet, “May I have a word about… being stuck in a permacrisis”, in The Observer, →ISSN:
Kelly: Is it true we have a pod containing a baby krogan down in the cargo hold?
Shepard: Not a baby. He's a full-grown super soldier ready for combat.
Kelly: Please be careful if you decide to... err... birth him? His personality is completely unknown. 2010, BioWare, Mass Effect 2 (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Normandy SR-2:
I don't know nothin' 'bout birthin' babies! 1939, Sidney Howard, Ben Hecht, Jo Swerling, John Van Druten, Oliver H.P. Garrett, Gone with the Wind (film):
(figuratively, transitive) To produce, give rise to.
Biological evolution created a human mind that enabled cultural evolution, which now outpaces and outclasses the force that birthed it. 2006, R. Bruce Hull, Infinite Nature, University of Chicago Press, →ISBN, page 156:
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
births
Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
birthed
Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
birthed
Tense=Past
lexicographic
birthing
Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
Deriveds
birthdate (Terms derived from the noun, adjective, or verb birth) · birthstone (Terms derived from the noun, adjective, or verb birth) · birthyear (Terms derived from the noun, adjective, or verb birth) · birth pill (Terms derived from the noun, adjective, or verb birth) · virgin birth (Terms derived from the noun, adjective, or verb birth) · stillbirth (Terms derived from the noun, adjective, or verb birth) · birth mother (Terms derived from the noun, adjective, or verb birth) · birth control (Terms derived from the noun, adjective, or verb birth) · birth pangs (Terms derived from the noun, adjective, or verb birth) · birth tourism (Terms derived from the noun, adjective, or verb birth) · gainbirth (Terms derived from the noun, adjective, or verb birth) · birthplace (Terms derived from the noun, adjective, or verb birth) · noble birth (Terms derived from the noun, adjective, or verb birth) · birthrate (Terms derived from the noun, adjective, or verb birth) · birth parent (Terms derived from the noun, adjective, or verb birth) · crossbirth (Terms derived from the noun, adjective, or verb birth) · give birth (Terms derived from the noun, adjective, or verb birth) · afterbirth (Terms derived from the noun, adjective, or verb birth) · birth rate (Terms derived from the noun, adjective, or verb birth) · birthday (Terms derived from the noun, adjective, or verb birth) · breech birth (Terms derived from the noun, adjective, or verb birth) · birthright (Terms derived from the noun, adjective, or verb birth) · birthing (Terms derived from the noun, adjective, or verb birth) · forebirth (Terms derived from the noun, adjective, or verb birth) · accident of birth (Terms derived from the noun, adjective, or verb birth)
cmn 生出 (to give birth (to)) · sa जनति (to give birth (to)) · nl baren (to give birth (to)) · eo naski (to give birth (to)) · bg раждам (to give birth (to)) · sk porodiť (to give birth (to)) · ka დაბადება (to give birth (to)) · izh synnyttää (to give birth (to)) · pt dar à luz (to give birth (to)) · qu unquy (to give birth (to)) · te ప్రసవించు (to give birth (to)) · te కను (to give birth (to)) · fr accoucher (to give birth (to)) · mk раѓа (to give birth (to)) · la pario (to give birth (to)) · el γεννώ (to give birth (to)) · ckb مناڵبوون (to give birth (to)) · sv föda (to give birth (to)) · ta பெறு (to give birth (to)) · grc γεννᾰ́ω (to give birth (to)) · io naskigar (to give birth (to)) · sl roditi (to give birth (to)) · es dar a luz (to give birth (to)) · ar وَلَدَ (to give birth (to)) · ar وَضَعَ (to give birth (to)) · he הוֹלִיד (to give birth (to)) · fo eiga (to give birth (to)) · cs porodit (to give birth (to)) · de entbinden (to give birth (to)) · ta பிறப்பை கொடு (to give birth (to)) · fi synnyttää (to give birth (to)) · pt parir (to give birth (to)) · sw kuzaa (to give birth (to)) · io akushar (to give birth (to))
He vvas a Surgeon, and they called him Doctor; but he vvas not employed in the Sloop as a Surgeon, but vvas going to Berbadoes to get a Birth, as the Sailors call it. 1720, [Daniel Defoe], The Life, Adventures, and Pyracies, of the Famous Captain Singleton, London: […] J[ohn] Brotherton, […], J[ohn] Graves […], A[nne] Dodd, […], and T[homas] Warner, […], →OCLC, page 186:
[Y]ou have got a good vvarm birth here; but vve ſhall beat up your quarters. Here, Lucy, Moll, come to the fire, and dry your trumpery. 1778, [Frances Burney], “Letter XVI. Evelina to the Rev. Mr. Villars.”, in Evelina, or, A Young Lady’s Entrance into the World, volume I, London: […] T[homas] Lowndes, […], →OCLC, page 103:
Tho' vve vvere again got near our harbour by three in the afternoon, yet it ſeemed to require a full hour or more, before vve could come to our former place of anchoring, or birth, as the captain called it. a. 1755 (date written), Henry Fielding, The Journal of a Voyage to Lisbon, […], London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, […], published 1755, →OCLC, page 191:
[W]ith worldly wisdom, the first comer hastens to secure the best birth in the coach for himself, and to make the most convenient arrangement for his baggage before the arrival of his competitor. 1816, [Walter Scott], chapter I, in The Antiquary. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, →OCLC, pages 6–7:
The road was very narrow, with no opportunity of giving the apparent phantom what seamen call a wide birth. 1830, Walter Scott, “Letter X”, in Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft, […], London: John Murray, […], →OCLC, page 386:
Passengers their births are clapt in, / Some to grumble, some to spew. / 'Hey day! call you that a cabin? / Why 'tis hardly three feet square; / Not enough to stow Queen Mab in— / Who the deuce can harbour there?' 1809 June 30, Lord Byron, “Letter XXXVI. To Mr. Hodgson.”, in Thomas Moore, editor, Letters and Journals of Lord Byron: With Notices of His Life, […], volume I, London: John Murray, […], published 1830, →OCLC, stanza 3, page 191:
And vvhen he had ſhevvn me their birth (as he called it) I vvas filled vvith aſtoniſhment and horror.—VVe deſcended by divers ladders to a ſpace as dark as a dungeon, vvhich I underſtood vvas immerſed ſeveral feet under vvater, being immediately above the hold: I had no ſooner approached this diſmal gulph, than my noſe vvas ſaluted vvith an intolerable ſtench of putrified cheeſe, and rancid butter, […] 1748, [Tobias Smollett], “I am Reduced to Great Misery—Assaulted on Tower-hill by a Press-gang, who Put Me on Board a Tender—My Usage there—My Arrival on Board of the Thunder Man of War, […]”, in The Adventures of Roderick Random. […], volume I, London: […] [William Strahan] for J[ohn] Osborn […], →OCLC, page 226:
"[…] She lays close to the Endymion, between her and the Cleopatra, just to the eastward of the sheer hulk." / "Ha!" cried William, "that's just where I should have put her myself. It's the best birth at Spithead.[…]" 1816 February 19, [Jane Austen], chapter VII, in Mansfield Park: […], 2nd edition, volume III, London: […] [Thomas Davison] for J[ohn] Murray, […], →OCLC, page 151: