The first association associated with the word "offspring" is children, but not plants, but ours, human ones. But, as you might guess, this approach is not entirely true. To think correctly, you need to look into the etymological, then - into the explanatory dictionary, and also make sentences.
Origin
History is our foundation, so it should not be neglected. And all the same, what concerns it. Language is as dependent on the past as our life. Therefore, we will open the source announced above and find out what he has prepared for us.
The etymological dictionary states that the word came from "sprinkle", that is, "give young shoots." There is also the meaning of "splash, burst." In general, the “plant” origin probably did not surprise anyone. John Updike remarked remarkably about the offspring children. We will save his thought for the next section.
Explanatory dictionary
With the origin it is clear, the offspring is an escape. Actually, it’s the same with a person. For example, this applies to dynasties, when children necessarily follow in the footsteps of older relatives. Doctors especially value this practice, however, now traditions are weakening. For example, Hugh Laurie has a large proportion of relatives - doctors, and he became an actor and played Dr. House. Thus, family traditions were kicked out the door, and they climbed out the window. Maybe someone did not know that the famous actor is the offspring of a doctoral dynasty? Yes, like that. But the doctor is a profession, suggesting a predisposition, perhaps Lori did not have such inclinations, and relatives did not begin to press. Well, very wise.
If the parallel is clear, then you can move on and look in the explanatory dictionary for the meaning of the word "offspring":
- Escape from a stump or root.
- Descendant (obsolete), as well as a child, child (ironic).
As you can see, the explanatory dictionary, unlike most people, remembers traditions and honors them. Promised by John Updike. The author of "Rabbit" in his epochal tetralogy wrote that people grow old only when they have children, like a plant that, when sprouting, fades. Good idea! It may be, of course, slightly obvious, but it approaches the topic wonderfully. Therefore, the offspring is not a simple word, but also something that can inspire. At the very least, observing or thinking about Updike plants gave the world literature a wonderful paragraph, which was shortened and presented to the reader in the form of lapidary thoughts.