misbegotten

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˌmɪsbɪˈɡɑtən/ UK /ˌmɪsbɪˈɡɒtən/ See IPA manual

Freq #68832

Meanings

1

adj
badly conceived, designed, or produced

The committee abandoned the misbegotten scheme after its costs became clear.
2

adj
wretched, contemptible, or defective in character

Something abnormal and misbegotten seemed to lie in the creature's very essence.
3

adj
born to parents not married to each other, an archaic and now offensive use

The old play cruelly calls the child misbegotten.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · badly conceived, designed,... ill-conceivedmisguidedmalformed

2 adj · wretched, contemptible, or... wretched debased worthless

3 adj · born to parents not married... illegitimate

Opposites

well-conceivedlegitimate sound

Word family

Related forms misbegetbegotten

Etymology

From mis- + begotten, the past participle of beget. It first characterized a person as badly or unlawfully begotten; later it broadened to plans, works, or qualities considered badly conceived, defective, or contemptible.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives Register & Style

External links

# misbegotten

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˌmɪsbɪˈɡɑtən/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌmɪsbɪˈɡɒtən/
**Frequency rank:** 68832

## Meanings
1. badly conceived, designed, or produced
2. wretched, contemptible, or defective in character
3. born to parents not married to each other, an archaic and now offensive use

## Examples
- The committee abandoned the misbegotten scheme after its costs became clear.
- Something abnormal and misbegotten seemed to lie in the creature's very essence.
- The old play cruelly calls the child misbegotten.

## Synonyms
- ill-conceived
- misguided
- wretched
- malformed

## Antonyms
- well-conceived
- legitimate
- sound

## Related Forms
- misbeget
- begotten

## Etymology
From mis- + begotten, the past participle of beget. It first characterized a person as badly or unlawfully begotten; later it broadened to plans, works, or qualities considered badly conceived, defective, or contemptible.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives
- Register & Style

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