Search the Dictionary

The entering into a new spiritual life; the act of becoming, or of being made, Christian; that change by which holy affectations and purposes are substituted for the opposite motives in the heart. He saved us by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Chost. Tit. iii. 5.

Becoming, or causing to become, rejuvenated; rejuvenating.

h he was perpetually soliciting an increase of his disgraceful stipend are mentioned with becoming reprobation. Jeffrey. Set a brand of reprobation on clipped poetry and false coin. Dryden.

A romp; a wanton; one given to unbecoming conduct. [Obs.] Fuller.

Fit; suitable; proper; correct; becoming; as, the right man in the right place; the right way from London to Oxford.

The becoming stiff or rigid; the state of being rigid; rigidity; stiffness; hardness. The rest his look Bound with Gorgonian rigor not to move. Milton.

Round or nearly round; becoming round; roundish.

Growing or becoming red; tending to redness.

Resembling a saint; suiting a saint; becoming a saint; saintly. Glossed over only with a saintlike show. Dryden.

Like a saint; becoming a holy person. So dear to Heaven is saintly chastity. Milton.

In a manner to give offense; shamefully. His discourse at table was scandalously unbecoming the digmity of his station. Swift.

Making or secreting a hard substance; becoming hard.

on in the manual of arms, used in wet weather, the object being to guard the firearm from becoming wet. The piece is turned with the barrel to the front and grasped by the right hand at the lewer band, the muzzle is dropped to the front, and the piece held with the guard under the right arm, the hand supported against…

Suited to the object, occasion, purpose, or character; suitable; fit; becoming; comely; decorous. He had a seemly nose. Chaucer. I am a woman, lacking wit To make a seemly answer to such persons. Shak. Suspense of judgment and exercise of charity were safer and seemlier for Christian men than the hot pursuit of these c…

Of or pertaining to a senator, or a senate; becoming to a senator, or a senate; as, senatorial duties; senatorial dignity.

Of or pertaining to a seraph; becoming, or suitable to, a seraph; angelic; sublime; pure; refined. "Seraphic arms and trophies." Milton. "Seraphical fervor." Jer. Taylor. -- Se*raph"ic*al*ly, adv. -- Se*raph"ic*al*ness, n.

lanis) allied to the cat- fishes. It is the largest fresh-water fish of Europe, sometimes becoming six feet or more in length. See Siluroid.

Resembling, or becoming to, a shepherd; pastoral; rustic. [R.] Jer. Taylor.

Becoming shallow gradually. "A shoaling estuary." Lyell.

The act of making or becoming short or shorter.