befall
/bi'fɔ:l/
Học thuậtThân thiện
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
- Befell: Simple past tense.
- Disaster befell the expedition.
- Befallen: Past participle.
- A curse has befallen this land.
Synonyms
- Occur: To happen or take place. (More neutral and common)
- Happen: To take place. (The most general and common synonym)
- Transpire: To occur; to happen. (Formal)
- Betide: To happen to someone. (Archaic, similar literary use)
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?