verb
befall
bih-FAWL
verb
1
To happen to someone, especially something unfortunate.
"No one could have predicted the tragedy that would befall the town."
"Whatever misfortune befalls us, we'll face it together."
How to Use Befall
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo happen to someone or something, usually with a serious or negative event.
When to use it
Formal or literary; rarely used in casual conversation.
Common pairings
a fate that befalls
whatever befalls
Word Forms
befell past tense, befallen past tense, befalls plural, befalls singular
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No one could have predicted the tragedy that would _____ the town.
Etymology
From Old English befeallan, combining the prefix "be-" with "fall," originally meaning something like "to fall upon."