befalling

English

Etymology

From Middle English bifallinge, equivalent to befall +‎ -ing. Cognate with Dutch bevalling (“delivery, confinement”), Swedish befallning (“command, behest, charge”).

Noun

befalling (plural befallings)

  1. A happening; occurrence; chance; event.

Verb

befalling

  1. present participle of befall

Adjective

befalling (comparative more befalling, superlative most befalling)

  1. (archaic) Appertaining; appropriate; fitting.
    • 1542, Nicholas Udall, The apophthegmes of Erasmus:
      Bountie and largesse is befalling for kynges.
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