The term 'CAME BY' can be broken down into four crossword solutions: GOT (3 letters), SECURED (7 letters), ATTAINED (8 letters), and OBTAINED (8 letters). These words all refer to the act of acquiring something, either through effort or luck. GOT implies that the item was acquired without much effort, while secured implies that it was acquired with some effort. ATTAINED and obtained both imply that the item was acquired through effort, but ATTAINED implies that it was acquired through a greater amount of effort than obtained.