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# born

verb (bear, bears, bore, born — in «be born»); adjective (born = natural, as in «a born leader»)

«born» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Born means having come into life. A baby is born on its birthday. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/born/#m1)
2. Born means having a natural gift: «a born singer». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/born/#m2)
3. Born in a place means that is where your life started: «born in Ireland». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/born/#m3)
4. An idea or plan can be born: it starts. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/born/#m4)

### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/born/#x1)
- Tom was born 3 years before his sister. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/born/#x2)
- How old is someone born 8 years ago? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/born/#x3)
- 4 more calves were born, so now there are 15. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/born/#x4)
- My baby brother was born last spring. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/born/#x5)
- She was born in Canada but grew up in Scotland. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/born/#x6)
- Kangaroos are born very small and live in their mother's pouch. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/born/#x7)
- He is a born leader. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/born/#x8)
- The idea for the club was born at a sleepover. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/born/#x9)

### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/born/#x1)
- All the first-born of thy sons thou shalt redeem. (Torah EXO.34.20, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/born/#x2)
- The first-born of thy sons shalt thou give unto Me. (Torah EXO.22.29, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/born/#x3)
- These were born to David in Hebron. (Prophets 2SA.3.5, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/born/#x4)
- Is a land born in one day? (Prophets ISA.66.8, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/born/#x5)
- And Canaan begot Zidon his first-born, and Heth; (Writings 1CH.1.13, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/born/#x6)

### 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).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «born» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/born/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«born» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/born.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «born» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/born/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«born» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/born.html) on Mova free.