A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1431-1596, 1662
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Tocum, v. P.t. to-cam. [ME tocumen (c1200), to comen (1297); To- prefix1 and Cum v.]
1. Of a letter, etc. a. tr. To arrive at, come to a person's attention. b. intr. Const. to a person's attention.Transl. L. universis et singulis ad quorum noticiam presentes littere pervenerint.a. 1431 Buccleuch Mun. II 28.
Tyll all and syndry off qwam the knawlege thir presentis letterys ma to cum, gretyng 1492 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 301.
Till all and sindry … quhais knavlegis thir present lettres sall tocum … greting 1533 Edinb. B. Rec. II 64.
Till all and sindry quhais knaulege thir present literis sall tocumb. 1438–9 Rec. Earld. Orkney 71.
Til all and syndri lele folk in Cryste to quhais knawlagis thir present letteris sal to cum … greting 1563–4 Rec. Earld. Orkney 272.
Till all and syndry quhome it plessouris to quhois knaulage this present letter sall to cum
2. intr. Of a person: To arrive. 1513 Doug. x viii 44 (Ruddim.) (see To cuming vbl. n. a).
To cumyng 1662 Criminal Trials III 617.
All the rest sat downe [as] they to cam
3. Of an event: (To be about) to happen. 1448–9 Aberd. B. Rec. (SHS) civ n.3.
[To see] how ilke man of this burgh sal be bodyne anent the apparande wer tocum of Inglis men
4. tr. To encounter (something). 1596 Dalr. I 206/19.
Maximian … wastes, burnes, and slayes al that he tocumis
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"Tocum v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/tocum_v>
