The females were sired twice in the ninth century, and again during the Renaissance.

[constantinusphilo]

The females were sired twice in the ninth century, and again during the Renaissance.

The Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller

What is the meaning of 'sired' here?

 

[Skrej]

What does a dictionary tell you?

 

[constantinusphilo]

Nothing that fits the context.

 

[jutfrank]

To stand any chance of interpreting this line correctly, our members are going to need to see a lot more context. Could you post the whole passage (not including any obscenities)?

I'm really not sure what it means but I think he's talking loosely about the impurities of Moldorf's lineage, the 'females' being his ancestors.

 

[probus]

I think Miller has erred in his use of technical terms. In those terms what the females got was bred. They were bred. To sire means to father not to breed. For example: he sired many sons.

 

[constantinusphilo]

Here, 'to sire' means 'to impregnate'.

 

[GoesStation]

Here, 'to sire' means 'to impregnate'.

If so, it's a misuse of the word. "Sired" means fathered.

 

[probus]

Here, 'to sire' means 'to impregnate'.

Are you sure? How do you know?

 

[constantinusphilo]

Just guessed from the context finally. I have also consulted the Russian translation. I have not found a free French ebook, otherwise I would have consulted it also to be more sure.

 

[probus]

Words mean what they mean, not what you want them to mean. Inconvenient though you may find it, you will have to face that fact if you wish to be truly proficient in English.