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)
- A happening; occurrence; chance; event.
Verb
befalling
- present participle of befall
Adjective
befalling (comparative more befalling, superlative most befalling)
- (archaic) Appertaining; appropriate; fitting.
- 1542, Nicholas Udall, The apophthegmes of Erasmus:
- Bountie and largesse is befalling for kynges.
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