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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

befalling en · ADJ

Etymology

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

Meanings

  1. (archaic) Appertaining; appropriate; fitting.
    • Bountie & largeſſe is befalling for kynges. 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:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
more befalling Degree=Cmp lexicographic
most befalling Degree=Sup lexicographic

befalling en · NOUN

Etymology

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

Meanings

  1. A happening; occurrence; chance; event.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
befallings Number=Plur lexicographic

Synonyms

accident · occurrence · befalling · fortuity · instance · hap · contingency · befalling · proceeding · incident · goings-on · happening · event · casualty · chance · occasion · affair · episode

befalling en · VERB

Etymology

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

Meanings

  1. (form-of, gerund, participle, present) present participle and gerund of befall
    form of befall