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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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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 M^cCulloch 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