Word definition: become

Etimology


A compound of the sources of be- +‎ come. From Middle English becomen, bicumen, from Old English becuman (“to come (to), approach, arrive, enter, meet with, fall in with; happen, befall; befit”), from Proto-Germanic *bikwemaną (“to come around, come about, come across, come by”), equivalent to be- (“about, around”) +‎ come. Cognate with Scots becum (“to come, arrive, reach a destination”), North Frisian bekommen, bykommen (“to come by, obtain, receive”), West Frisian bikomme (“to come by, obtain, receive”), Dutch bekomen (“to come by, obtain, receive”), German bekommen (“to get, receive, obtain”), Swedish bekomma (“to receive, concern”), Gothic 𐌱𐌹𐌵𐌹𐌼𐌰𐌽 (biqiman, “to come upon one, befall”). Sense of "befit, suit" due to influence from Middle English cweme, icweme, see queem.

verb


become (third-person singular simple present becomes, present participle becoming, simple past became, past participle become or (rare, dialectal) becomen)

(copulative) begin to be; turn into. [from 12th c.]

(intransitive, archaic outside become of) To come about; happen; come into being; arise. [from 12th c.]

(transitive) To be proper for; to beseem. [from 13th c.]

(transitive) Of an adornment, piece of clothing etc.: to look attractive on (someone). [from 14th c.]

(intransitive, obsolete) To arrive, come (to a place). [9th–18th c.]

Examples


Synonyms: get, turn, go

She became a doctor when she was 25.

The weather will become cold after the sun goes down.

The sense ‘state or process of bearing fruit’ has become imposed on fruition as the 20c. proceeded.

The humor of my proposition appealed more strongly to Miss Trevor than I had looked for, and from that time forward she became her old self again; for, even after she had conquered her love for the Celebrity, the mortification of having been jilted by him remained.

Then, as the Sunderland fans' cheers bellowed around the stadium, United's title bid was over when it became apparent City had pinched a last-gasp winner to seal their first title in 44 years.

Earless ghost swift moths become “invisible” to echolocating bats by forming mating clusters close above vegetation and effectively blending into the clutter of echoes that the bat receives from the leaves and stems around them.

What became of him after he was let go?

It hath becomen so that many a man had to sterve.

And Time went forth into the worlds to obey the commands of the gods, yet he cast furtive glances at his masters, and the gods distrusted Time because he had known the worlds or ever the gods became.

Ay, lord, she will become thy bed, I warrant,And bring thee forth brave brood.

He was hatted, booted, overcoated, and umbrellaed, as became a person who was about to expose himself to the night and the storm on an errand of charity […]

His ordination […] enabled him to be independent of his parents, and to afford a manner of living which became his rank rather than his calling.

That dress really becomes you.

& thenne the noble knyghte sire Launcelot departed with ryghte heuy chere sodenly / that none erthely creature wyste of hym / nor where he was become / but sir Bors

But, madam, where is Warwick then become?

Related words


synonyms

(to be suitable for): befit, suit

Data provided by Wiktionary