become

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Verb 1.3.1 Synonyms 1.3.2 Translations 1.4 References

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

Old English becuman, from Proto-Germanic. Cognate with German bekommen, Dutch bekomen.

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /bə'kʌm/, /bɪˈkʌm/, SAMPA: /b@"kVm, bI"kVm/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}
• Rhymes: -ʌm
• Hyphenation: be‧come

[edit] Verb

to become (third-person singular simple present becomes, present participle becoming, simple past became, past participle become)

1. (intransitive, obsolete) To arrive, come (to a place). [9th-18th c.]
   • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book VII:

     And than Sir Launcelot departed suddeynly, and no creature wyst where he was becom but Sir Bors.

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

   She became a doctor when she was 25.

   The weather will become cold after the sun goes down.

3. (transitive) To look attractive on, be suitable for. [from 14th c.]

   That dress really becomes you.

[edit] Synonyms

• (to be suitable for): befit, suit

[edit] Translations

[edit] References

• become in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• become in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913