befall

/bi'fɔ:l/

Definition

Verb (intransitive):
- To happen or occur, especially as if by chance or fate. It describes an event taking place, often with a sense of it being unforeseen or beyond one's control.
- To come to pass in the course of events.
Verb (transitive):
- To happen to someone or something. It describes an event, typically a misfortune or significant occurrence, affecting a specific person or thing.

Usage and Examples

Intransitive use (something befalls):
- A great misfortune befell the ancient city.
- We waited to see what would befall next.
Transitive use (something befalls someone/something):
- No one knows what befell the previous owner of this house.
- She feared what tragedy might befall her family.

Advanced Usage and Notes

Formality and Connotation: "Befall" is a formal, literary, or archaic word. It often carries a neutral or negative connotation, frequently used for misfortunes, disasters, or significant historical events. It is less common in everyday modern speech.
Grammatical Structure: It is often used with an impersonal "it" or in passive constructions.
- It befell that the king fell ill on the eve of the battle.
- A strange fate had befallen them.

Variants and Related Words

Synonyms

Phrasal Verbs / Constructions

Befall to: This is not a standard phrasal verb. The transitive use already incorporates the object without a preposition (e.g., "A crisis befell the company").
As may befall: A fixed, formal phrase meaning "whatever may happen."
- He vowed to stand by her, as may befall.

Idioms and Fixed Phrases

Woe betide (someone): An idiom meaning "a misfortune will happen to someone." It is related in meaning and archaic style to "befall."
- Woe betide anyone who interrupts the manager during a meeting.
What has become of...?: A common phrase for asking about someone's fate or current situation, closely related to the meaning of "befall."
- What has become of the old town square?

Verb

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)
become of; happen to
- He promised that no harm would befall her
- What has become of my children?

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