become
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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English [edit]
Etymology [edit]
From Middle English becomen, bicumen, from Old English becuman (“to come, 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 (bikwiman, “to come upon one, befall”). Sense of "befit, suit" due to influence from Middle English cweme, icweme, see queem.
Pronunciation [edit]
- (UK) IPA: /bɪˈkʌm/, /bɪˈkʊm/
- (US) IPA: /bəˈkʌm/, /bɪˈkʌm/, X-SAMPA: /b@"kVm, bI"kVm/
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Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -ʌm
- Hyphenation: be‧come
Verb [edit]
become (third-person singular simple present becomes, present participle becoming, simple past became, or (nonstandard) becomed, past participle become)
- (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.
- 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book VII:
- (copulative) To come about; happen; come into being; arise; begin to be; turn into. [from 12th c.]
- What became of him after he was let go?
- She became a doctor when she was 25.
- The weather will become cold after the sun goes down.
- 2012 May 13, Alistair Magowan, “Sunderland 0-1 Man Utd”, BBC Sport:
- 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.
- (transitive) To look attractive on, be suitable for. [from 14th c.]
- That dress really becomes you.
Synonyms [edit]
Translations [edit]
to begin to be
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to look attractive on, be suitable for
References [edit]
- become in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
- become in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
Statistics [edit]
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Most common English words before 1923: body · point · letter · #347: become · became · second · United
Categories:
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms derived from Old English
- English terms derived from Proto-Germanic
- English words prefixed with be-
- Gothic entries which need Gothic script
- English verbs
- English terms with obsolete senses
- English copulative verbs
- English irregular past participles
- English irregular verbs
- English past participles
