Word of the Week: “To Become”

From BAILEY:
To BECOME [of be and cpeman, Sax. to please, of bequemen, G. to adapt or make fit, or bequem, G. fit, or of bekommen, G. to thrive or agree with] to befit, to adorn; also to be made or done. 
From JOHNSON:
To BECO’ ME. v. n. pret. I became; comp. pret. I have become. [from [...]

Item of the Day: Observations on Certain Documents (1797)

Full Title: Observations on Certain Documents Contained in No. V. & VI. of “The History of the United States for the Year 1796,” in which the Charge of Speculation against Alexander Hamilton, Late Secretary of the Treasury, is fully refuted. Written by himself. Philadelphia: Printed for John Fenno, by John Bioren, 1797.
OBSERVATIONS, &c.
 
THE spirit of [...]

Item of the Day: Sterne’s Sermons in The Works… (1803)

Full Title:  The Works of Laurence Sterne, Complete in Eight Volumes. Containing I. The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy. II. A Sentimental Journey through France and Italy, and Continuation. III. Sermons. IV. Letters. V. The Fragment. VI. The Koran. VII. History of a Good Warm Coat. With A Life of the Author, Written by Himself. Vol. [...]

Item of the Day: The New Book of Chronicles [1789]

Full Title: The New Book of Chronicles; Delineating in Eccentrical Sketches of the Times a Variety of Modern Characters of the Great and Small Vulgar. London: Printed for T. Massey, Snow-Hill, and Sold by all the Booksellers of Great Britain.
CHAPTER I.
ARGUMENT.
 
With odds and ends, and scanty scraps
The mystic muse begins; perhaps,
‘Tis, as descending from the [...]

Item of the Day: New Travels through North-America (1784)

Full Title: New Travels through North-America: In a Series of Letters; Exhibiting the History of the Victorious Campaign of the Allied Armies, under His Excellency General George Washington and the Count de Rochambeau, in the Year 1781. Interspersed with political and philosophical Observations, upon the genius, temper, and customs of the Americans: Also, Narrations of [...]

Item of the Day: Plain Truth (1776)

Full Title: Plain Truth; Addressed to the Inhabitants of America. Containing Remarks on a late Pamphlet, Intitled Common Sense; Wherein are shewn, that the Scheme of Independence is ruinous, delusive, and impracticable; that were the Author’s Asseverations, respecting the Power of America, as real as nugatory, Reconciliation on liberal Principles with Great Britain would be [...]

Item of the Day: The Gentleman’s Magazine [1749]

Full Title: The Gentleman’s Magazine, and Historical Chronicle. Volume XIX. For the Year M.DCC.XLIX. By Sylvanus Urban, Gent. London: Printed for Edw. Cave, at St. John’s Gate.
February, 1749.
From the General Evening Post, February 2.
To COUNTRY GENTLEMEN.
As the war is at an end, and we are going, I hope, to enjoy the blessings of peace, you [...]

Item of the Day: The Epistles of Phalaris (1749)

Full Title: The Epistles of Phalaris. Translated from the Greek. To which are added, Some Select Epistles of the most eminent Greek Writers. By Thomas Francklin. London: Printed for R. Francklin, in Russel-Street, Covent-Garden, MDCCXLIX.
THE
PREFACE.
THERE is no kind of writing, which can boast of more admirers than the epistolary. The letters of the Greeks [...]

Item of the Day: History of the War with America, France, Spain, and Holland (1785)

Full Title: History of the War with America, France, Spain; and Holland; commencing in 1775 and ending in 1783. By John Andrews. In Four Volumes with Portraits, Maps and Charts. London: Published by his Majesty’s Royal Licence and Authority. For John Fielding, Pater Noster Row; and John Jarvis in the Strand, MDCCLXXXV.
 
INTRODUCTION.
NO Nation ever terminated [...]

Item of the Day: Political Advantages of Godliness (1797)

Full Title: The Political Advantages of Godliness. A Sermon, preached before His Excellency the Governor, and the Honorable Legilsature of the State of Connecticut, convened at Hartford on the Anniversary Election, May 11, 1797. By Isaac Lewis. Hartford: Printed by Hudson & Goodwin, 1797.
ELECTION SERMON.
I. TIMOTHY IV. 8.
—GODLINESS is profitable unto all things, having promise [...]