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Added 9 October 2026

befall

/bɪˈfɔːl/ verb

In Latin: accido, incidō, cado Wiktionary

verb Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about befall at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Become of; happen to.
He promised that no harm would befall her
Happen, occur, or be the case in the course of events or by chance.
It happens that today is my birthday

Origin

From Middle English bifallen, from Old English befeallan, from Proto-West Germanic *bifallan, from Proto-Germanic *bifallaną; equivalent to be- + fall.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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