Origin: Germanic
Old English prefix
Befall has 4 different meanings across 1 category:
Verb
Noun
1
Case; instance; circumstance; event; incident; accident.
Verb
1
become of; happen to
"He promised that no harm would befall her"
"What has become of my children?"
2
happen, occur, or be the case in the course of events or by chance
"It happens that today is my birthday"
"These things befell"
3
To fall upon; fall all over; overtake
Example Sentences
"He promised that no harm would befall her"
verb
"What has become of my children?"
verb
"It happens that today is my birthday"
verb
"These things befell"
verb
Related Terms
Show all 23 terms ↓
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
Origin
Befall comes from the Old English word befeallan, which combines the prefix be- with the verb fall. Originally, it meant to happen or occur to someone.