i Register
In some senses, befall is marked as obsolete. Watch for register when choosing this word.
befall
UK /bɪˈfɔːl/ US /bɪˈfɔl/
verb 4noun 1
Collocations
4ADJ.
new, same
VERB + BEFALL
harm
BEFALL + NOUN
calamities, thee
PREP.
in, in
Definitions
verb
1
To fall upon; fall all over; overtake.
At dusk an unusual calm befalls the wetlands.
2
To happen.
It befell in the days of Uther Pendragon [...] that there was a mighty duke in Cornwall that held war against him long time.
3
To happen to.
Temptation befell me.
But as soon as her son espied her, bowl in hand, he thought that haply something untoward had befallen her, but he would not ask of aught until such time as she had set down the bowl, when she acquainted him with that which had occurred[…]
4
To fall.
With a thought I tooke for Maudline & a cruse of cockle pottage. with a thing thus tall, skie blesse you all: I befell into this dotage.
noun
1
Case; instance; circumstance; event; incident; accident.
Or he had tolde al his befall.
This is proposed to be done by moving necessary amendment in this befall to the Finance Bill.
Thesaurus
Idioms & Phrases
Example Bank
601
At dusk an unusual calm befalls the wetlands.
Wiktionary02
It befell in the days of Uther Pendragon [...] that there was a mighty duke in Cornwall that held war against him long time.
Wiktionary03
Temptation befell me.
Wiktionary04
Or he had tolde al his befall.
Wiktionary05
This is proposed to be done by moving necessary amendment in this befall to the Finance Bill.
Wiktionary06
He said "I would advise people to cultivate frugal habits. I will not commit the crime of making them helpless by saying that they have no responsibility whatever in the befall of calamities like old
WiktionaryUsage Notes
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