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Feb 12, 2015 at 13:12 history edited user6951 CC BY-SA 3.0
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Feb 4, 2015 at 10:07 comment added J.R. @pyobum - Yes, cross-posting is discouraged across all of SE, although many SE sites so overlap somewhat (like English Language & Usage and Writing, for example, or Computer Science and Data Science). As for migrating it, I don't think "Is this usage of become wrong?" is really a question that needs to be handled by "linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts." It's an interesting question, as some of your comments point out, but it's fine right here.
Feb 4, 2015 at 2:12 comment added pyobum @J.R. That's good information for the future. I wasn't clear on the general feeling towards cross-posting. Any chance of it being migrated? Or do you think it's better off staying here on ELL?
Feb 4, 2015 at 2:01 comment added J.R. @pyobum - Maybe the original answer was a bit too concise. At any rate, cross-posting on both ELL and ELU is discouraged, so I hope that doesn't happen.
Feb 4, 2015 at 1:19 comment added pyobum @J.R. I had posted an answer more or less saying what's in my above comments (perhaps too concisely) that almost immediately got two "drive-by" downvotes, so I pulled it. If I get another couple of people backing up my analysis and examples in the comments, I'll expand my original answer and repost it. On a side note, I think that it would be useful to also ask this question on English Language and Usage (with a "meaning" tag) and that it would get some good answers/analysis from the users there.
Feb 3, 2015 at 10:23 comment added Ben Kovitz @pyobum That is another good point: that usage has changed since Truman's time. That might even be a useful lead for some historical information to make clear which reading is most faithful to Truman's use of the word.
Feb 3, 2015 at 10:15 comment added J.R. @pyobum - I think your two comments really should be folded into an answer.
Feb 3, 2015 at 10:09 comment added pyobum @BenKovitz I see how it can potentially have either one of the meanings we've suggested. I think the meaning I've proposed has fallen out of use and that the scope of its usage was fairly narrow even 60+ years ago. Unfortunately, resurrecting Truman so we can ask him directly probably isn't an option, and even if it were, I doubt our grammar questions would be very well received. Think it over! Cheers.
Feb 3, 2015 at 9:27 comment added Ben Kovitz @pyobum That's a very good example, and I think your point about Truman not choosing the present perfect bears thought. I'll think about this. (Right now, though, it behooves me to get some work done.)
Feb 3, 2015 at 7:10 comment added pyobum Another example of become as I analyze Truman to have used it: "I cannot force myself to the conviction that I am capable of making war on my kindred upon their soil in a manner that would become my duty and station." - Capt. David A. Henkes, quoted in The Chicago Daily Tribune, February 25, 1918
Feb 3, 2015 at 5:27 comment added pyobum Truman's intended meaning of become is the fourth one listed here: "to be suitable or necessary to the dignity, situation, or responsibility of." Truman is expressing to MacArthur that he is regretful/apologetic about replacing him, but the duties/responsibilities of his position (President) require him to do so. Refer to this page for an expression that uses become in the same way.
Feb 3, 2015 at 3:13 answer added user6951 timeline score: 1
Feb 3, 2015 at 3:10 answer added Ben Kovitz timeline score: 1
Feb 3, 2015 at 2:30 comment added Jason Patterson I would have used "has become" rather than "becomes" but both are grammatical.
Feb 3, 2015 at 1:43 answer added JayHook timeline score: 0
Feb 3, 2015 at 1:11 comment added DrMoishe Pippik It "became" necessary to replace him, and therefore it became his duty at that time.
Feb 3, 2015 at 0:41 history asked user8712 CC BY-SA 3.0