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⇱ befell - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

befell

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/bɪˈfel/

From the verb befall: (⇒ conjugate)
befell is: ⓘClick the infinitive to see all available inflections
v past

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
be•fall /bɪˈfɔl/USA pronunciation   v. [~ + object], -fell, -fall•en, -fall•ing. 
  1. to happen to (someone), esp. by chance:What had befallen them?

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
be•fall  (bi fôl′),USA pronunciation v., -fell, -fall•en, -fall•ing. 
v.i. 
  1. to happen or occur.
  2. [Archaic.]to come, as by right.

v.t. 
  1. to happen to, esp. by chance or fate.
  • Middle English befallen, Old English befeallan. See be-, fall (verb, verbal) bef. 900
    1. bechance, ensue, betide, materialize, chance.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
befall /bɪˈfɔːl/ vb ( -falls, -falling, -fell, -fallen) archaic or literary
  1. (intransitive) to take place; come to pass
  2. (transitive) to happen to
  3. (intransitive) usually followed by to: to be due, as by right
Etymology: Old English befeallan; related to Old High German bifallan, Dutch bevallen; see be-, fall
'befell' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
ill
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