befall
To fall upon; fall all over; overtakeTo fall upon; fall all over; overtake.
» A most horrible thing befell him.
Meaning
4 senses(transitive)To fall upon; fall all over; overtake.
At dusk an unusual calm befalls the wetlands.
(intransitive)To happen.
become of; happen to
(transitive)To happen to.
Temptation befell me.
befallen, zustoßen, hereinbrechen
случатьсяslučatʹsja
happen, occur, or be the case in the course of events or by chance
(intransitive, obsolete)To fall.
Examples
20 sentencesA most horrible thing befell him.
A dire tragedy has befallen me.
ruМеня постигла страшная трагедия.
A disaster is befalling the country.
We have no idea what befell us.
He has no idea what befell me.
Translations
3 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
From Middle English bifallen, from Old English befeallan, from Proto-West Germanic *bifallFrom Middle English bifallen, from Old English befeallan, from Proto-West Germanic *bifallan, from Proto-Germanic *bifallaną; equivalent to be- + fall.
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Forms
befalls, befalling, befell, befallenSynonyms
6 synonymsWord family
2 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, irregular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle