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Liable to happen; apt to occur; befalling; hence, naturally happening or appertaining. All chances incident to man's frail life. Milton. The studies incident to his profession. Milward.

To befall, as ill luck; to happen to unluckily. [Obs.] Chaucer.

y the objective personal pronoun. So doth my heart misgive me in these conflicts What may befall him, to his harm and ours. Shak. Such whose consciences misgave them, how ill they had deserved. Milton.

s. Now, Barabbas was a robber. John xviii. 40. The other great and undoing mischief which befalls men is, by their being misrepresented. Now, by calling evil good, a man is misrepresented to others in the way of slander. South. Now and again, now and then; occasionally. -- Now and now, again and again; repeatedly. [Ob…

erful tale; a sort of novel, especially one which treats of surprising adventures usually befalling a hero or a heroine; a tale of extravagant adventures, of love, and the like. "Romances that been royal." Chaucer. Upon these three columns -- chivalry, gallantry, and religion -- repose the fictions of the Middle Ages,…

of things consumed on the altar; to offer sacrifice. O teacher, some great mischief hath befallen To that meek man, who well had sacrificed. Milton.

"I'll serve you out for this." C. Kingsley. -- To serve one right, to treat, or cause to befall one, according to his deserts; -- used commonly of ill deserts; as, it serves the scoundrel right; -- To serve one's self of, to avail one's self of; to make use of. [A Gallicism] I will serve myself of this concession. Chi…

ortune; hence, as a supplicatory exclamation, forbid! [Obs.] God shield that it should so befall. Chaucer. God shield I should disturb devotion! Shak.

to seize; to make prisoner; as, to take am army, a city, or a ship; also, to come upon or befall; to fasten on; to attack; to seize; -- said of a disease, misfortune, or the like. This man was taken of the Jews. Acts xxiii. 27. Men in their loose, unguarded hours they take; Not that themselves are wise, but others weak…

Whatever; whatsoever; what thing soever; -- used indefinitely. "What after so befall." Chaucer. Whether it were the shortness of his foresight, the strength of his will, . . . or what it was. Bacon.