Jane Mayer

It was our view of the worst that could befall our people if they were taken captive. So, what was fascinating to me was that somehow it appears the techniques that we have feared most in the world would be used on our people, we are using on people in our custody.

American Journalist

Eamon de Valera

When we have done our best, we can, as a united people, take whatever may befall with calm courage and confidence that this old nation will survive and if death should come to many of us, death is not the end.

Irish Statesman

Eric Stoltz

Things happen to everybody in the course of a lifetime. Relationships end, people die, tragedy befalls everyone. So everyone has this wealth of experience, and the older you are the more you have to draw on.

American Actor

Pope John Paul II

Have no fear of moving into the unknown. Simply step out fearlessly knowing that I am with you, therefore no harm can befall you; all is very, very well. Do this in complete faith and confidence.

Polish Saint

John Muir

Take a course in good water and air; and in the eternal youth of Nature you may renew your own. Go quietly, alone; no harm will befall you.

American Environmentalist

Chris Eubank Sr.

Most people seem to think I am something of a character and the things that have befallen me are par for my course.

British Athlete

William Blake

I have no name: I am but two days old. What shall I call thee? I happy am, Joy is my name. Sweet joy befall thee!

English Poet

W. Somerset Maugham

Few misfortunes can befall a boy which bring worse consequence than to have a really affectionate mother.

British Playwright

Elbert Hubbard

The happiness of this life depends less on what befalls you than the way in which you take it.

American Writer

Stephen Hawking

There are too many accidents that can befall life on a single planet.

English Physicist

Used when the outcome or event is unknown, often about the future.

Future Uncertainty

'Befall' doesn't imply good or bad in this definition, but simply that something will happen.

Neutral Contexts

'Befall' has a slightly formal, old-fashioned tone, often found in literature.

Literary Use

Stresses that the event is bad or unfortunate, not neutral.

Negative Events

Carries emotional weight by highlighting the impact of the negative event.

Emotional Weight

Shows those affected are passive recipients of the event, often victims.

Passive Victims

 which is my sister's a little on the clumsy side. Somehow, without any help or push from her older brother at all, Amy disappeared off of the top of the bunk bed and landed with this crash on the floor. I nervously peered over the side of the bed to see what had befallen my fallen sister and saw that she had landed painfully on her hands and knees

The happy secret to...

 bit on the clumsy side and somehow without any help or push from her older brother at all suddenly Amy disappeared off the top of the bunk bed and landed with this crash on the floor and I never sleep eared over the side of the bed to see what had befallen my fallen sister and saw that she landed painfully on her hands and

 before the risk was brought down a hundredfold. Today, that fate befalls less than six percent of children in the poorest countries of the world. Famine is one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. It could bring devastation to any part of the world. Today, famine has been banished

Is the world getting...

 fairly miserable mind but he looked even more miserable today because he was on his own so that's what's going on here at befalls hook water hole what I would like to do now is have a moment of them ambient appreciation

Safari Live - Day 329 PIPE...

 But clear and specific change to existing admission policies can ensure that other minors do not face the same fate that befell me and my family. Fourth -- and this is the most important of them all --

My 105 Days in Taliban...

 and what I see is someone walking away from me going like this. And then it hits it's bad luck to take gold from No-Face. In the film "Spirited Away," bad luck befalls those who take gold from No-Face.

My love letter to...

 Because, all these terrible scenarios I've painted -- they are not destiny. They're optional. The danger is still kind of distant. And that means it will only befall us if we allow it to.

How synthetic biology...

 One such unnerving transformation befell the spinner Arachne. Arachne was the daughter of a tradesman who spent his days dying cloth the deepest shades of purple.

The myth of Arachne  -...

 little boy having inherited all of it but tragedies would befall him by three he was fatherless by eight he was an orphan having lost his mother to

The impact of Simón...

 dear ted-ed subscribers splendid luck befell me last month when I had a chance to introduce myself to you in this video

Befall

To happen to.

Often appears as...

Usage tips

To happen, especially something bad or unfortunate.

Often appears as...

Usage tips

Future Uncertainty

Neutral Contexts

Literary Use

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