verb
- past participle of befall; to have happened to someone, especially something bad or unfortunate
Usage: formal; often used in passive constructions
Examples
- Great misfortune had befallen the family.
- What tragedy has befallen our town?
- A terrible fate had befallen the expedition.
- No harm has befallen the children.
- The same disaster that had befallen other cities now threatened theirs.
- She wondered what might have befallen her missing brother.