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n. 1. a. The emergence and separation of offspring from the body of the mother. b. The act or process of bearing young; parturition: the mare's second birth. c. The circumstances or conditions relating to this event, as its time or location: an incident that took place before my birth; a Bostonian by birth. 2. a. The set of characteristics or circumstances received from one's ancestors; inheritance: strong-willed by birth; acquired their wealth through birth. b. Origin; extraction: of Swedish birth; of humble birth. c. Noble or high status: persons of birth. 3. A beginning or commencement. See Synonyms at beginning. tr.v. birthed, birth·ing, births 1. To deliver (a baby). 2. Chiefly Southern US To bear (a child). [Middle English, probably of Scandinavian origin; see bher-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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