become

Etymology

A compound of the sources of be- + come. From Middle English becomen, bicumen, from Old English becuman (“to come (to), 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 𐌱𐌹𐌵𐌹𐌼𐌰𐌽 (biqiman, “to come upon one, befall”). Sense of "befit, suit" due to influence from Middle English cweme, icweme, see queem.

verb

1. (copulative) begin to be; turn into.
   She became a doctor when she was 25.
   The weather will become cold after the sun goes down.
   The sense ‘state or process of bearing fruit’ has become imposed on fruition as the 20c. proceeded.
   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. May 13, 2012, Alistair Magowan, “Sunderland 0-1 Man Utd”, in BBC Sport
   Earless ghost swift moths become “invisible” to echolocating bats by forming mating clusters close (less than half a meter) above vegetation and effectively blending into the clutter of echoes that the bat receives from the leaves and stems around them. 2013 May-June, William E. Conner, “An Acoustic Arms Race”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3, pages 206–7
2. (copulative) To come about; happen; come into being; arise.
   What became of him after he was let go?
   It hath becomen so that many a man had to sterve.
3. (transitive) To be proper for; to beseem.
   1892, Ambrose Bierce, “The Applicant,” in The Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce, Volume II: In the Midst of Life (Tales of Soldiers and Civilians), New York: Gordian Press, 1966, He was hatted, booted, overcoated, and umbrellaed, as became a person who was about to expose himself to the night and the storm on an errand of charity […]
   His ordination[…]enabled him to be independent of his parents, and to afford a manner of living which became his rank rather than his calling. 1930, Duff Cooper, Talleyrand, Folio Society, published 2010, page 7
4. (transitive) Of an adornment, piece of clothing etc.: to look attractive on (someone).
   That dress really becomes you.
5. (intransitive, obsolete) To arrive, come (to a place).