BEFALL

happen, befall, bechance

(verb) happen, occur, or be the case in the course of events or by chance; “It happens that today is my birthday”; “These things befell” (Santayana)

befall, bechance, betide

(verb) become of; happen to; “He promised that no harm would befall her”; “What has become of my children?”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Verb

befall (third-person singular simple present befalls, present participle befalling, simple past befell, past participle befallen)

(transitive) To fall upon; fall all over; overtake

(intransitive) To happen.

(transitive) To happen to.

(intransitive, obsolete) To fall.

Synonyms

• (to fall upon)

• (to happen) come to pass, occur, transpire; See also happen

• (to happen to)

Noun

befall (plural befalls)

Case; instance; circumstance; event; incident; accident.

Anagrams

• flabel

Source: Wiktionary


Be*fall", v. t. [imp. Befell; p. p. Befallen; p. pr. & vb. n. Befalling.] Etym: [AS. befeallan; pref. be- + feallan to fall.]

Definition: To happen to. I beseech your grace that I may know The worst that may befall me. Shak.

Be*fall", v. i.

Definition: To come to pass; to happen. I have revealed . . . the discord which befell. Milton.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

18 June 2025

SOUARI

(noun) large South American evergreen tree trifoliate leaves and drupes with nutlike seeds used as food and a source of cooking oil


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Coffee Trivia

In 1511, leaders in Mecca believed coffee stimulated radical thinking and outlawed the drink. In 1524, the leaders overturned that order, and people could drink coffee again.

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