v. Obs. [Com. W Ger.: OE. befeolan = OS. and OHG. bifelhan (MHG. bevelhen, mod.G. befehlen, MDu. and Du. bevelen), f. bi-, BE- + felhan, in ON. fela to hide, bury, entrust, Goth. filhan to hide, bury. An important vb. in Ger. and Du., but early lost in Eng.]
trans. To commit, entrust, consign, grant.
c. 1000. Ags. Ps. lxxii. 14 [lxxiii. 18]. Þu him for inwite, yfel befæle.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 123. On helle þe we weren in bifolen þurh ure eldra gult.
