befall

[ bih-fawl ]
/ bɪˈfɔl /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR befall ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), be·fell, be·fall·en, be·fall·ing.

to happen or occur.
Archaic. to come, as by right.

verb (used with object), be·fell, be·fall·en, be·fall·ing.

to happen to, especially by chance or fate.

Origin of befall

before 900; Middle English befallen, Old English befeallan. See be-, fall (v.)

Words nearby befall

beeville, beevor's sign, beezer, bef, bef., befall, befit, befitting, beflag, beflowered, befog

Words related to befallen

materialize, transpire, ensue, develop, shake, action, break, go, chance, cook, follow, smoke, fall, hap, betide, happen, jell, occur, supervene, bechance

Example sentences from the Web for befallen

British Dictionary definitions for befallen

befall
/ (bɪˈfɔːl) /

verb -falls, -falling, -fell or -fallen archaic, or literary

(intr) to take place; come to pass
(tr) to happen to
(intr usually foll by to) to be due, as by right

Word Origin for befall

Old English befeallan; related to Old High German bifallan, Dutch bevallen; see be-, fall