befalling

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.

This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.