In the 16th century, Turkish women could divorce their husbands if the man failed to keep his family’s pot filled with coffee.
BEFALLEN
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
Verb
befallen
past participle of befall
Source: Wiktionary
BEFALL
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
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
29 March 2025
THOUGHTLESS
(adjective) without care or thought for others; “the thoughtless saying of a great princess on being informed that the people had no bread; ‘Let them eat cake’”
Coffee Trivia
