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.
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
befell
simple past tense of befall
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
19 June 2025
(noun) the condition of belonging to a particular place or group by virtue of social or ethnic or cultural lineage; “his roots in Texas go back a long way”; “he went back to Sweden to search for his roots”; “his music has African roots”
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.