born

Everyday

1. Born means having come into life. A baby is born on its birthday. tree →
2. Born means having a natural gift: «a born singer». tree →
3. Born in a place means that is where your life started: «born in Ireland». tree →
4. An idea or plan can be born: it starts. tree →

In the lessons

tells a start in time: the year someone was born, ages, or new animals that add to a group; in science: mammals are born alive, birds hatch from eggs; in history: famous people and when they were born; in everyday life: birthday, «where were you born?»; phrases: «be born», «newborn», «born and bred», «first-born»

Examples

• 5 kittens were born on Monday. tree →
• Tom was born 3 years before his sister. tree →
• How old is someone born 8 years ago? tree →
• 4 more calves were born, so now there are 15. tree →
• My baby brother was born last spring. tree →
• She was born in Canada but grew up in Scotland. tree →
• Kangaroos are born very small and live in their mother's pouch. tree →
• He is a born leader. tree →
• The idea for the club was born at a sleepover. tree →

Note

New animals born add to the group; «born n years ago» gives the age n. Trap: «born 3 years before» means older by 3. Grammar: «I was born» (not «I am born» or «I borned»). Do not confuse «born» (came into life) with «borne» (carried).

In Jewish tradition

Here "first-born" is the eldest son, who belongs to God. In the later books "born" also means simply having come into life, and Isaiah uses it for a nation coming into being.

Interpretation. Tradition says the firstborn are holy because God spared Israel's firstborn in the last plague. They were redeemed by a payment to a priest, which is still done in the ceremony of Pidyon HaBen. Isaiah asks, "Is a land born in one day?" and the tradition reads this as a promise that Zion will be restored suddenly.

Examples

• Behold, I will slay thy son, thy first-born.' — (Torah EXO.4.23, JPS 1917) tree →
• All the first-born of thy sons thou shalt redeem. (Torah EXO.34.20, JPS 1917) tree →
• The first-born of thy sons shalt thou give unto Me. (Torah EXO.22.29, JPS 1917) tree →
• These were born to David in Hebron. (Prophets 2SA.3.5, JPS 1917) tree →
• Is a land born in one day? (Prophets ISA.66.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Canaan begot Zidon his first-born, and Heth; (Writings 1CH.1.13, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

New animals born add to the group; «born n years ago» gives the age n. Trap: «born 3 years before» means older by 3. Grammar: «I was born» (not «I am born» or «I borned»). Do not confuse «born» (came into life) with «borne» (carried).