The spelling of the word "be gotten" may cause confusion for some, as it involves the use of two common suffixes: "be-" and "-got." When pronounced, "be gotten" sounds like /bi ˈɡɑtən/, with the stress on the second syllable. The prefix "be-" in this case is an archaic form of "to" or "onto," and "gotten" is the past participle of "get." Together, they create the meaning of "to have acquired or obtained something." Despite its slightly unconventional spelling, "be gotten" remains a valid term in the English language.
"Be gotten" refers to the grammatical construction of the passive form of the verb "get" in the present or past participle tense. The term "be" functions as the auxiliary verb and is conjugated to agree with the subject of the sentence, while "gotten" serves as the main verb. "Be gotten" is primarily used in American English and is more commonly employed in its past participle form, whereas in British English, "got" is typically used instead.
The term "gotten" itself is the past participle of the verb "get" and is used to indicate the act of acquiring, receiving, or obtaining something. The past participle highlights the completed action of "getting" and is often employed to denote the result or consequence of that action. For example, one might say, "He has been gotten by the flu," where the subject (he) has acquired or caught the flu.
It is worth noting that the phrase "be gotten" is somewhat archaic or dialectical in nature, and its usage may be limited in contemporary English. Additionally, the use of "gotten" as a past participle is more prevalent in American English, while British English commonly uses "got" in its place. However, "be gotten" can still be encountered in written or spoken language, particularly in contexts that aim to emulate or maintain a traditional or regional style.
The word "begotten" is the past participle of the verb "beget", which means to procreate or to generate offspring. The word "beget" can be traced back to the Old English word "begetan", which derived from the Proto-Germanic word "biganan". The Proto-Germanic word "biganan" is composed of the prefix "bi-" meaning "to bring about" or "to give birth to", and the root "ganan" which means "to go". The original sense of "beget" conveyed the idea of "to bring about by going", which gradually evolved to refer to generating offspring.