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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Becum, v. Also: becume (becumin, becummyne); become. Pa.t. becom(e, becam, became, bycame. P.p. becummin, -yn, becumin, -yn, -en, becwmen; becum (becumb), becwm; becumed, -it, becomed. [ME. become(n, becume(n, OE. becuman.]

1. intr. To come, arrive, reach a place or state. a1400 Leg. S. xxi. 146.
Clement … cuth nocht here … Quhare thai become in ony land
Ib. xxix. 467.
Eustace had na persawinge Quhare thai become
1456 Hay II. 6/37.
The squier began to wakyn of his slepe, and wist nocht quhare he was becummyn
Ib. 151/3.
Thare the barne become amang wis men
1513 Doug. iii. iv. 4.
In thir ilandis quhidder we ar becum
Ib. v. vii. 53.
Quhar now that fame … is becummyn and gone
1516 Reg. Privy S. I. 445/2.
The x lib. worth of land … quhilkis … ar becumin in our soverane lordis handis
1533 Bell. Livy II. 200/3.
Als sone as thai war becummyn oure the said montanis
1564 Fraser Papers 188.
Sen the becuming thairof [sc. the fishing] in oure handis
a1605 Montg. Son. xviii. 1.
Quhare bene ȝe, brave and pregnant sprits, becum?
1622-6 Bisset II. 173/28.
How the … Ilis of Scotland returned and become agane to the croun of Scotland

b. To befall, happen, come about. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3518.
This misarie become … From Noeis flude thre hundreth ȝeir
1560 Rolland Seven S. 55/22.
Sa it become, and fell be Goddis grace, That [etc.]
Ib. 243/33.
Heir is to me becum ane cairfull cace
1556 Lauder Off. Kings i.
Quhat sall becum to kyngis that contynewis in iniquitie

c. To arrive, come to pass. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 48/27.
The morne become, he callit his Lordis all
Ib. 225/4.
The hour become, and dennar time of day

d. To attain to, to succeed in getting; tr. to acquire. 14.. Acts I. 359/1.
Ony landis … Throu the assent of the burges of Edinburgh lufandly becwmen
1575–6 Waus Corr. I. 117.
I can becum to na money fra William McCulloch
1662 Kelso Bailie Ct. 69 b.
That the samyne [naig] is leal becumit
1666 Ib. 70 b.
That the said hors is lawllie [sic] becumed

2. To come to be (something specified).(a) c1420 Wynt. ii. 1375.
He … bade that thai sulde … becum indeyde his men
Ib. v. 4706.
To becum the Devillis man
1456 Hay I. 103/31.
ȝit may he becum man to that lord
Ib. 152/5.
Gif a man of armes becummys seke
a1500 Rauf C. 890.
Becum cristin, Schir Knicht
1493 Acta Conc. 263/1.
[Thai] are bundin and oblist to becumin souerte
1540 Crim. Trials I. i. 226.
The said Williame … becumis plege and souirte
1549 Compl. 34/34.
Ve becum haistylye venqueist
1590 Grant Chart. 179.
To … releve the said erll of his becuming cautioun
1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 151.
Laying of the wind, and making of it to becumin calme
1609 Skene Reg. Maj. 63 b.
Ane man … becumand bairman
(b) 1375 Barb. xiii. 544.
He become of his duellyng
a1400 Leg. S. xxix. 149.
To succoure hyme I be-com man
c1420 Wynt. ii. 324.
Thare he become the kyngys man
a1500 Bk. Chess 1506.
Baltasar become brother of new
1513 Doug. v. xi. 40.
Scho … bycame agyt Beroes in hy
1573 Peebles B. Rec. 354.
Quhen he become souertie thairfore
a1578 Pitsc. I. 157/27.
Scho became leicherous of hir body
1622-6 Bisset I. 4/23.
This Caractacus … become ane Christiane
1611-57 Mure I. 31/6.
Quho … becam a prelat
1692 Conv. Burghs IV. 594.
His ship become a wrak
(c) (a) 1456 Hay I. 234/23.
Gif thare war a man becummyn blynd
1493 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 141.
Schyr James Ogilby … is becumin plege and souirte
c1515 Asl. MS. I. 174/21.
Thai ar becummyn … of mair vyle condicioun
1529 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 12.
William … is becummyn souerte and cautioun
15.. Clar. ii. 288.
Ȝe ane preacher ar becumin richt
1570 Conv. Burghs I. 18.
Ane greitt part … are now becumin vnable and pure
(b) 1451 Cromarty Corr. II. 346.
Seing … the said chartour … becumit almaist vnlegable
1572 Peebles B. Rec. 339.
[He] is becumit causcioun and souerte

b. Const. with preps … esp. in.(1) 1488 6th Rep. Hist. MSS. 704/2.
I bind … me and becummis in manteinance … to the said Robert
1552 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 168.
Thomas Cvnynghame … become in the townis will
1617 Urie Baron Ct. 19.
A.S. and W.B. ar becwm in the Lairdis will
(2) 1667 Highland P. II. 34.
They became to play at dice

3. To be fitting or suitable; to befit (one). c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxvii. 10.
Richelie arrayit as become thame to be
1562-3 Winȝet II. 12/22.
Suythlie sa it becumis, and equitie that requiris
Ib. 79/4.
It becumis nocht to eik ocht to antiquitie
1596 Dalr. I. 128/10.
That I appeir nocht … prouder than becumis me
1602 Aberd. Kirk S. 23.
To intertene her as becums him

b. In the expletive phrase as becumis, etc. 1555 Conv. Burghs I. 12.
That all burrowis … concur togidder … as becumis
a1578 Pitsc. I. 37/7.
As it becommes ws to do
1587 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 437.
With al dew humilitie … as becomis
1603 Moysie 137.
His Majestie … interteaned him alwayis as became
1656 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 351.
That honest men … may sitt thairin as becumeth

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"Becum v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 4 Oct 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/becum>

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