also 2–5 bi-, by-, 2–4 be-, bivalle, 6– befal. Pa. t. befell (2– -fel). Pa. pple. befallen. Variant forms generally as in FALL. [OE. bef(e)all-an f. BE- 2 + f(e)allan to fall; = OS., OHG. bifallan, mod.G. befallen.]
† 1. intr. To fall. (Chiefly fig.) Obs.
c. 897. K. Ælfred, Past. Ca., xl. (Bosw.). Hie oft befeallað on micel yfel.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. x. 29. An of ðam ne befylþ on eorþan.
c. 1160. Hatton G., ibid. Ne befalð on eorðen.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 73. Þe sinfulle man beoð bifallen on depe sinne.
1470. Harding, Chron., Pref. 2. Iff that he were in suche a jupertee Of werre by falle.
1649. Selden, Laws Eng., I. lxvii. (1739), 177. Many mens cases befel not directly within the Letter of the Law.
2. To fall to as one’s share or right; to pertain, belong; be fitting. Also impers. arch.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 761. Mest al þet ich habbe idon bi-fealt to child-hade.
c. 1305. St. Lucy, 170, in E. E. P. (1862), 106. Þe reisouns were alle iseid þat bifulle þerto.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. II. 48. ‘Reddite Caesari,’ seide god, ‘þat to cesar by-falleþ.’
c. 1460. Towneley Myst. 209. Sirs, a kyng he hym cals. Therfor a crowne hym befals.
1649. Selden, Laws Eng., I. xiii. (1739), 23. It now befals to touch upon the manner of the Government of the Church.
1850. Neale, Med. Hymns, 197. Giving to the dearer ones What to each befalleth.
† 3. To fall to (as an inheritance). Obs.
a. 1617. Bayne, On Eph. (1658), 131. Goodly Lands, which in likelihood will befal him.
1704. Lond. Gaz., No. 4049/4. He is desired to return … he having an Estate befallen him.
4. To fall out in the course of events, to happen, occur: a. simply. arch.
a. 1300. Sarmun, 57, in E. E. P. (1862), 7. Þe mest ioi þat mai befalle.
c. 1420. Anturs Arth., lv. This ferli be-felle in Ingulwud forest.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, IX. i. 48. I sal persew, and follow quhat befaw.
1610. Healey, St. August. City of God, 126. The Eclipse which befell at our Saviours death was quite against the regular course of the stars.
1765. Tucker, Lt. Nat., I. 372. There are seldom any events befalling … which concern no more than a single person.
1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, xx. Ethel’s birthday befel in the Spring.
b. with indirect obj. (dative). The most frequent modern use.
1297. R. Glouc., 556. Ac after þulke time … Lute god cas him biuel.
1477. Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 91. They knowe not what good may befall them thereby.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. xxxix. § 4, Wks. 1841, I. 553. Heavy accidents which befall men in this … life.
1611. Bible, Gen. xlii. 4. Lest peraduenture mischiefe befall him.
1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 128, ¶ 6. The most deplorable misfortune that possibly can befal a Woman.
1858. J. Martineau, Stud. Chr., 90. The disaster which then befell the human race.
c. with to, unto, or upon. arch.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 344. Swuche openliche sunnen þet to alle men biualleð.
1583. Golding, Calvin on Deut. xvii. 97. If this befell to Moses.
1667. Milton, P. L., VII. 43. What befell in Heaven To those Apostates.
1814. Cary, Dante’s Inf., XXIII. 5. What fate unto the mouse and frog befel.
d. impers., or with subject it representing a clause.
c. 1175. Cott. Hom., 231. Þa be-fel hit swa þat hym a þance befell.
1250. Lay., 27135. Luþer him bifalle was.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 18. Byfel that, in that sesoun on a day, In Southwerk at the Tabbard as I lay [etc.].
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. I. 7. On Maluerne hulles Me byfel for to slepe.
1483. Caxton, G. de la Tour, D vi. As in like wise bifelle to Eue that touchid of the fruyt.
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., V. i. 208. So befall my soule, As this is false.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 1185. Thus it shall befall Him who … Lets her Will rule.
1857. Kingsley, Two Y. Ago (1877), 54. And so it befell that they often quarrelled and wrangled.
† e. In phrases: Fair befall, foul befall. Obs.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. V. 59. Þat feire hem bifalle Þat suweth my sermon.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., 33. Fayre myght the befalle.
a. 1500. J. Bow & Person, 67, in Hazl., E. P. P., IV. 9. Then myght he laye him, so fowle befalde.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., II. i. 124. Now faire befall your maske.
† 5. To fall in one’s way, happen to be, turn up, occur. Obs.
1591. Spenser, Virgil’s Gnat., ix. To feede abroad, where pasture best befalls.
† 6. a. with compl. To become as it were by chance, to grow. Obs.
1592. Wyrley, Armorie, 146. Passing darke it was befaln.
† b. To become of. Obs.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur (1816), II. 125. Needs must I revenge my lord, and so will I whatsoever befal of me.
a. 1520. Myrr. our Ladye, 320. Thoughe they be roten or brente, or what euer befalle of them.
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., I. i. 124. To dilate What haue befalne of them and they till now.
† 7. ? To surround. Obs. rare.
c. 1205. Lay., 25736. Uppen ane hulle Mid sae ulode bi uallen [1250 mid see flode bifalle].
