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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary be·fall DATE 13th century intransitive verb : to happen especially as if by fate transitive verb : to happen to the fate that befell them English Etymology befall O.E. befeallan "to deprive of; fall to, be assigned to; befall," from be- "by, about" + feallan (see fall). Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 befall be·fall / bi5fC:l / verb(be·fell / bi5fel / , be·fallen / bi5fC:lEn / ) [VN] (used only in the third person 仅用于第三人称) (literary) (of sth unpleasant 令人不快的事) to happen to sb 降临到(某人)头上；发生: They were unaware of the fate that was to befall them. 他们并不知道即将降临到他们头上的厄运。 Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged be·fall \bə̇ˈfȯl, bē-\ verb (be·fell \-fel\ ; be·fall·en \-fȯlən, also in poetry & sometimes +V in prose -fȯln\ ; befalling ; befalls) Etymology: Middle English befallen, from Old English befeallan (akin to Old High German bifallan to fall), from be- + feallan to fall — more at fall intransitive verb 1. archaic : to fall due : pertain < taking only what befell to him > 2. : to take place especially as if by the prompting of destiny or fate : come to pass < these things befell — George Santayana > 3. obsolete : become — used with oftransitive verb : to happen or occur to especially in the course of events < the saddest thing that befalls a soul is when it loses faith — Alexander Smith > Synonyms: see happen |
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