Definitions for befall
bɪˈfɔlbe·fall

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:3.0 / 1 vote

1. befall, bechance, betideverb

   become of; happen to

   "He promised that no harm would befall her"; "What has become of my children?"

2. happen, befall, bechanceverb

   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)

WiktionaryRate this definition:1.0 / 2 votes

1. befallnoun

   Case; instance; circumstance; event; incident; accident.

2. befallverb

   To happen.

3. befallverb

   To happen to.

   Temptation befell me.

4. Etymology: From befallen, from befeallan, equivalent to. Cognate with Dutch bevallen, German befallen, Swedish befalla.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. To Befallverb

   Etymology: from fall. It befell, it hath befallen.

   1. To happen to: used generally of ill.

   Let me know
   The worst that may befall me in this case. William Shakespeare, Midsummer Night’s Dream.

   Other doubt possesses me, lest harm
   Befall thee, sever’d from me. John Milton, Parad. Lost, b. ix.

   This venerable person, who probably heard our Saviour’s prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem, drew his congregation out of those unparalleled calamities, which befell his countrymen. Joseph Addison, on the Christian Religion.

   This disgrace has befallen them, not because they deserved it, but because the people love new faces. Joseph Addison, Freeholder.

   2. To happen to, as good.

   Bion asked an envious man, that was very sad, what harm had befallen unto him, or what good had befallen unto another man? Francis Bacon, Apophthegms.

   No man can certainly conclude God’s love or hatred to any person, from what befalls him in this world. John Tillotson.

   3. To happen; to come to pass.

   But since th’ affairs of men are still uncertain,
   Let’s reason with the worst that may befall. William Shakespeare, J. Cæsar.

   I have reveal’d
   This discord which befell, and was in heav’n
   Among th’ angelick pow’rs. John Milton, Parad. Lost, b. vi.

   4. It is used sometimes with to before the person to whom any thing happens.

   Some great mischief hath befall’n
   To that meek man. John Milton, Paradise Lost, b. xi.

   5. To befall of. To become of; to be the state or condition of: a phrase little used.

   Do me the favour to dilate at full,
   What hath befall’n of them, and thee, till now. William Shakespeare, Comedy of Errours.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. befall

   Befall is a verb that refers to an event, especially something bad or unpleasant, happening to someone or something. It generally means to occur or happen by chance or fate.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:1.0 / 1 vote

1. Befallverb

   to happen to

2. Befallverb

   to come to pass; to happen

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:2.0 / 1 vote

1. Befall

   be-fawl′, v.t. to fall or happen to: to occur to.—v.i. to happen or come to pass: (Spens.) to fall in one's way:—pr.p. befall′ing; pa.t. befell′; pa.p. befall′en. [A.S. befeallan. See Fall.]

Matched Categories

1. • Happen

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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How to pronounce befall?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say befall in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of befall in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of befall in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

Examples of befall in a Sentence

1. Edward C. Banfield:

   Every political system is an accumulation of habits, customs, prejudices, and principles that have survived a long process of trial and error and of ceaseless response to changing circumstances. If the system works well on the whole, it is a lucky accident -- the luckiest, indeed, that can befall a society.

2. Joseph Addison:

   A good conscience is to the soul what health is to the body; it preserves constant ease and serenity within us; and more than countervails all the calamities and afflictions which can befall us from without.

3. Cicero:

   The injuries that befall us unexpectedly are less severe than those which are deliberately anticipated.

4. Dean Haydon:

   The children were paralyzed by fear of Haque, who they understood to have connections to terrorists and who essentially told them that a violent fate would befall them if they told anyone what he was doing.

5. Justice Louis Brandeis:

   No danger flowing from speech can be deemed clear and present unless the incidence of the evil apprehended is so imminent that it may befall before there is an opportunity for full discussion. Only an emergency can justify repression.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=befall
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Befall
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=befall
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/befall
6. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=befall
7. ^ Usage in printed sources
   https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=befall