What does besoming mean?
Besoming is a rare English word associated with the old-fashioned besom, a broom or sweeping brush traditionally made from bundled twigs. In its principal verb use, it is the present participle of “besom” and means to sweep or brush with such a tool. It can also be used as a gerund noun for the action of sweeping in this way. Although the word may appear in historical texts, literary work, dictionary entries, or descriptions of traditional practices, it is not part of ordinary contemporary English. Its principal interest is lexical and historical: besoming preserves both the physical image of an earlier broom and the older verb “besom,” from which modern speakers are more likely to know the tool than the action. For modern readers, the word is chiefly encountered as a rare or archaic form rather than as a current everyday verb.
The present participle of besom: sweeping or brushing with a besom.
"She was besoming the flagstones with a bundle of birch twigs."
Rare and chiefly archaic or literary; it may function adjectivally when describing the subject of the sweeping.
The action or process of sweeping with a besom.
"The daily besoming of the cloister was performed by a monk."
A rare gerund noun, now encountered mainly in historical or literary contexts.
The standard plural is besomings, although the noun is rare enough that it is seldom encountered in the plural.
"The weekly besomings of the community hall were scheduled after the evening meetings."
The word besoming preserves an old broom in its -ing: a picture of sweeping, brushing, and cleaning with bundled twigs.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does besoming come from?
Besoming was formed in English by adding the suffix -ing to the Middle English verb “besom,” meaning to sweep with a besom. Besom continued the Old English word besme, denoting a broom or sweeping brush. Cognates exist in other Germanic languages, including Dutch bezem and German Besen.
Related word forms
How besoming is actually used
Besoming is now very uncommon and has a markedly archaic or literary flavor. Its verb form can function as an adjective, as in “a besoming woman,” while the noun sense is even rarer.
Easily confused with besoming
Becoming means coming into existence or proving suitable, whereas besoming specifically means sweeping with a besom.