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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Befall, Befaw, v. P.t. befel, befell; p.p. befallyne, befallin, befall. [ME. befalle(n, OE. befeallan.]

1. intr. To fall out, happen, occur.1456 Hay I. 55/12 (to tell of all the bataillis that thare befell). c1475 Wall. ii. 371 (quhat auentur mycht befaw); vii. 268 (feill tempest is befall). a1500 Bk. Chess 3 (throw the coniunctioun that than befell). 1513 Doug. ix. i. 48 (I sal fallow quhat befaw). 1535 Stewart 1600 (for greit perrell that efter may befaw). 1567 G. Ball. 49 (the best nowellis that ever befell). a1570-86 Maitl. F. ci. 75 (ȝe wait not ȝit quhat may befall).

b. With it as subject, and freq. followed by that.1456 Hay I. 142/1 (it befallis that gude dedis of armes ar done); II. 151/35 (gif it befallis to ga nocht evin). a1540 Freiris Berw. 1 (as it befell and hapnit in-to deid).

c. Without subject. Also with that following.1456 Hay I. 41/23 (sa befell that Remy past up first to the mountane); 172/32 (as oft befallis). c1420 Ratis R. 243 (to tell thé al how mycht befal). c1475 Wall. ii. 286 (so befel in to that sammyn tid).

2. To happen to, to befall, a person.a1400 Leg. S. vii. 104 (ilkane can tel how tham befel). 1456 Hay I. 58/12 (for that victorye that thame befell thare); II. 159/9 (as it befell anys till a Sarrazene). a1500 Henr. Fab. 609 (the destenie that to this foxe befell). a1578 Pitsc. I. 110/27 (this mischief that had befallin thame). 1596 Dalr. I. 238/12 (quhilke neuir to ony Scotis king had ȝit befallin).

b. To fall to the lot of; to belong or pertain to.c1475 Wall. ix. 314 (thai kepyt weill that to the Scottis befell). a1500 Prestis of Peblis 455 (feil falts him befell). 1598 Edinb. Test. XXXI. 338 (ane hundretht merkis mair nor befallis to hir barnis part of geir). 1622-6 Bisset I. 39/17 (lands that may befall and belang to thame).

3. tr. To get as one's lot or share.a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1301 (al the fortoune the freke befell in the fight). 1516 Fife Sheriff Ct. 27 (Margrete … is befallyne the schadow cavill of the samyn). 1521 Ib. 209 (scho befell the schaddo cawill). 1574 Edinb. Test. III. 101 b (the said Ionet befell the ane half thairof).

4. intr. To become; to happen to be or do, etc.1456 Hay I. 224/14 (gif a burges has a sone that is befallin seke). 1574 Edinb. Test. III. 101 b (sua befell to be deuidit ten boll of quheit). 1622-6 Bisset II. 249/10 (twa veschellis befallis to tak heringis).