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befalling. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
befalling, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
befalling in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
befalling you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Etymology
From Middle English bifallinge, equivalent to befall + -ing. Cognate with Dutch bevalling (“delivery, labour”), Swedish befallning (“command, behest, charge”).
Noun
befalling (plural befallings)
- A happening; occurrence; chance; event.
Verb
befalling
- present participle and gerund of befall
Adjective
befalling (comparative more befalling, superlative most befalling)
- (archaic) Appertaining; appropriate; fitting.
1564 February, Erasmus, “The Saiynges of Antigonus the Firste Kyng of the Macedonians”, in Nicolas Udall [i.e., Nicholas Udall], transl., Apophthegmes, that is to Saie, Prompte, Quicke, Wittie and Sentẽcious Saiynges, , London: Ihon Kingston, →OCLC, book II, folio 155, recto, paragraph 11, marginal note:Bountie & largeſſe is befalling for kynges.