from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Father \Fa"ther\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Fathered}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Fathering}.]
1. To make one's self the father of; to beget.
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Cowards father cowards, and base things sire base.
--Shak.
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2. To take as one's own child; to adopt; hence, to assume as
one's own work; to acknowledge one's self author of or
responsible for (a statement, policy, etc.).
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Men of wit
Often fathered what he writ. --Swift.
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3. To provide with a father. [R.]
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Think you I am no stronger than my sex,
Being so fathered and so husbanded ? --Shak.
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{To father on} or {To father upon}, to ascribe to, or charge
upon, as one's offspring or work; to put or lay upon as
being responsible. "Nothing can be so uncouth or
extravagant, which may not be fathered on some fetch of
wit, or some caprice of humor." --Barrow.
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