engender

/ənˈdʒɛndər/

/ɛnˈdʒɛndə/

Other forms: engendered; engenders; engendering

Engender is a fancy way of saying "to make happen," like when you engender the spirit of teamwork and cooperation by encouraging others and doing your share of the group's work.

The verb engender has nothing to do with being male or female, though originally, it did mean "beget, procreate." Today, engender means "to produce or bring about." When students come to class prepared, meaning they've read their assignment, this engenders better class discussions, just as mutual trust and the desire to help each other engenders a meaningful friendship.

Definitions of engender

1. verb

   call forth
   synonyms: breed, spawn

   type of:

   cause, do, make

   give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
2. verb

   make children
   synonyms: beget, bring forth, father, generate, get, mother, sire

   type of:

   create, make

   make or cause to be or to become