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.
Quotation dates: 1375-1692
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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 Legends of the Saints xxi. 146.
Clement … cuth nocht here … Quhare thai become in ony land a1400 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 1456 Ib. 151/3.
Thare the barne become amang wis men 1513 Doug. iii. iv. 4.
In thir ilandis quhidder we ar becum 1513 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 Sages 55/22.
Sa it become, and fell be Goddis grace, That [etc.] 1560 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 Sages 48/27.
The morne become, he callit his Lordis all 1560 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 c1420 Ib. v. 4706.
To becum the Devillis man 1456 Hay I. 103/31.
ȝit may he becum man to that lord 1456 Ib. 152/5.
Gif a man of armes becummys seke a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 890.
Becum cristin, Schir Knicht 1493 Acts Lords of Council 263/1.
[Thai] are bundin and oblist to becumin souerte 1540 Criminal Trials I. i. 226.
The said Williame … becumis plege and souirte 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 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 Legends of the Saints 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 Christianec1611–c1617 Mure Early Misc P. xiii. 6.
Quho … becam a prelat 1692 Rec. Convention of Royal 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 Asloan MS I. 174/21.
Thai ar becummyn … of mair vyle condicioun 1529 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 12.
William … is becummyn souerte and cautioun 15.. Clariodus ii. 288.
Ȝe ane preacher ar becumin richt 1570 Rec. Convention of Royal 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 1562-3 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 Rec. Convention of Royal 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
