It's sad to think of the unhappy fate that befell him. The drought was only one of many hardships to befall the small country.
Recent Examples on the WebThe assassination of President Moïse was just the latest calamity to befall Haiti. The Week Staff, The Week, 25 July 2021 Wendy Hasson, a pediatric intensive care physician in Oregon, knows the tragedy that can befall an unimmunized child. Donna St. George, Anchorage Daily News, 27 Aug. 2022 None of those seem to be his fault, merely circumstances that can befall us all. Mark Deeks, Forbes, 18 July 2022 Despite the injustice that may befall you now, don't worry too much about wasting your breath defending yourself, because the truth will likely be revealed in time.Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2022 This despite the series being built, to the point of bemused discomfort, upon the day-to-day tensions and personality conflicts that befall every family. Odie Henderson, BostonGlobe.com, 26 May 2022 In the end, both faith and science fall short in the face of elemental drives like fear and love, and neither can account for the random accidents or tragedies that befall all lives. Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 May 2022 Legitimate responses to such hardship can feel hopelessly limited; become a survivalist, or sit around waiting for the next disaster to befall you. Eleanor Cummins, The New Republic, 26 May 2022 At least one individual’s implant has already failed with no way to repair it — a situation that could befall many others.New York Times, 12 May 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English befallen, going back to Old English befeallan (parallel to Old High German bifallan "to fall"), from be-be- + feallan "to fall entry 1"