BEFALL

Definition of BEFALL

BEFALL Verb

Befall is a verb that means to happen, especially in a negative or unfortunate way. It is often used in the passive voice to describe events or circumstances that come upon someone or something, typically indicating misfortune or a negative outcome. The word is less common in modern English, and its usage is often associated with formal or literary contexts.

Meaning and Usage: When befall is used, it usually refers to something significant that occurs or impacts a person or group, especially in a negative or unforeseen manner. For example, “A great tragedy befell the town,” suggests that a major misfortune or event happened to the town, often without warning or control. The verb emphasizes that the event was beyond the influence of those affected, implying a sense of inevitability or fate.

Past Tense and Passive Voice: The word befall is commonly used in the past tense, “befell,” to indicate that something has already happened. For example, “What has befallen him?” means asking about the negative events that have already occurred in someone’s life. It is also often used in the passive form, where the subject is the recipient of the action. For instance, “A great misfortune had befallen them,” focuses on the misfortune that was experienced, rather than the individual or entity that caused it.

Connotation of Misfortune: Befall carries a strong connotation of misfortune or something undesirable happening. It is often used in reference to calamities, disasters, or negative occurrences. For example, “A horrible fate befell the people of the village,” conveys the idea that something bad or tragic occurred to the people, often with a sense of helplessness or inevitability.

Relation to Fate or Destiny: The verb befall can also suggest a sense of fate or destiny, indicating that an event is predestined or beyond human control. In this sense, it is linked to the idea of forces outside of one’s control dictating outcomes. For example, “What fate will befall us?” implies that the future is uncertain, and something unforeseen or out of one’s hands will happen.

Literary and Formal Usage: Befall is more commonly found in literary, poetic, or formal contexts rather than in everyday conversation. Writers, especially in older works or historical texts, use befall to give a sense of gravity or importance to the events described. It adds an air of formality or timelessness to the expression. For instance, “And so it befell that the kingdom fell into ruin” has a weighty, formal tone that emphasizes the seriousness of the event.

Other Forms and Variations: The word befall can be used in different forms, such as “befallen” (past participle) and “befalling” (present participle). For example, “The tragedy that befell the family is still remembered today” uses befallen to indicate the completed action, while “The circumstances befalling the country were dire” uses befalling to indicate the ongoing nature of the negative events.

Synonyms and Alternatives: While befall has a specific, somewhat formal connotation, there are other verbs that can be used in similar contexts, depending on the situation. Some common alternatives include “happen,” “occur,” “transpire,” or “take place.” However, these alternatives do not always convey the same sense of misfortune or inevitability that befall does. For example, “A disaster occurred” lacks the specific sense of negative fate implied by “A disaster befell the region.”

In conclusion, befall is a verb used to describe an event or circumstance, often with negative connotations, that happens or impacts someone or something, usually unexpectedly or due to forces beyond control. It emphasizes the occurrence of misfortune or tragedy and is frequently used in the passive voice. While the verb befall is formal and more common in literary contexts, it serves to convey a sense of inevitability or fate and underscores the seriousness of the events described.

Examples of BEFALL in a sentence

• No one knows what fate may befall them in the future.
• Tragedy can befall even the most prepared individuals.
• The villagers feared disaster would befall them after the storm warnings.
• A great opportunity may befall those who work hard and stay determined.
• Misfortune seemed to befall the travelers at every turn.
• The king worried that betrayal would befall his kingdom.
• It is impossible to predict what challenges may befall us in life.
• She was grateful that no harm had befallen her family during the crisis.

Origin of BEFALL

The term befall has an intriguing etymology, reflecting a shift in its meaning from something that happens to someone to a more passive concept of events occurring by chance or fate. Its development mirrors its changing usage in English, from the literal to the figurative.

Semantic Context: Befall means to happen, occur, or come about, especially in relation to something affecting someone, often with a connotation of fate or misfortune. It is commonly used in passive constructions, such as “Misfortune befell him,” to indicate that an event happened to someone, typically something unpleasant or undesired.

• Etymological Roots: The word befall originates from the Old English befallan, which is a compound of be- (a prefix meaning “around” or “completely”) and falan (meaning “to fall”). The term befallan literally meant “to fall upon” or “to happen to.” Over time, the meaning broadened to include events or circumstances that came upon someone, especially those beyond their control or that were unfortunate in nature. This root evolved in Middle English to its modern form, befall, while maintaining its sense of an event occurring or befalling someone, often with an implication of fate.
• Historical Development: In Old and Middle English, befall was used in a more literal sense to describe things happening to or falling upon someone or something, without necessarily implying the negativity it carries today. Over the centuries, however, it became more closely associated with negative occurrences or misfortunes, and its usage evolved into its current connotation, particularly in the passive voice (e.g., “What has befallen her?”). By the 14th century, befall had taken on a more figurative sense, often used to describe the unpredictable and uncontrollable nature of events or circumstances that come to pass, particularly those that are undesirable.
• Grammatical Usage: Befall is typically used in the passive voice and is often paired with phrases indicating misfortune or calamity. For example, “A terrible fate befell him” or “What has befallen the city?” It is rarely used in active constructions, as the focus is often on the event happening to someone or something rather than who or what caused the event. This passive construction emphasizes the sense of inevitability or fate surrounding the occurrence.
• Modern Usage: Today, befall is a somewhat formal or literary word, typically used to describe events, especially negative or unexpected ones, that happen to people or places. It retains its association with fate or misfortune, and while it is not commonly used in everyday speech, it appears in literature, news reports, and other formal contexts to convey the occurrence of events with a certain gravity or inevitability. For example, “The village was devastated by a tragedy that befell them.”

The term befall has evolved from its Old English roots meaning “to fall upon” into a more figurative expression of events, particularly those of misfortune, that happen to individuals or places. Its historical development reflects the way it shifted from a general term for events occurring to one with a focus on fate and undesired outcomes. Today, befall continues to carry a sense of inevitability or misfortune in its usage.