befallen

Definition & meaning

The German verb "befallen" primarily means to afflict, to attack, or to seize. It describes a situation where something negative or involuntary comes over a person, animal, plant, or object. It is generally used in three specific contexts:

1. Medical and Biological: It refers to being struck by a disease or infested by pests or parasites. For example, a tree can be befallen by fungi, or a person can be befallen by a virus.
2. Emotional and Psychological: It describes the sudden onset of a strong, often negative, feeling or state of mind. One might be befallen by fear, doubt, or sudden tiredness.
3. General Misfortune: It can describe being struck by a disaster or a stroke of bad luck.

Grammar & Word origin

The word "befallen" is a strong (irregular) verb. Its forms are:

• Present: er/sie/es befällt
• Präteritum (Simple Past): befiel
• Partizip II (Past Participle): befallen

Structurally, the word is composed of the prefix be-↗ and the basic verb fallen↗ (to fall). The prefix "be-" turns the intransitive "falling" into a transitive action directed at an object. Literally, it conveys the sense of something "falling upon" or "descending upon" someone or something.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

• heimsuchen↗ (often used for plagues or major misfortunes)
• erfassen↗ (used when an emotion or physical state seizes someone)
• überkommen↗ (to come over someone, usually regarding feelings)
• angreifen↗ (to attack, often used in a medical context for organs)
• anstecken↗ (to infect)

Antonyms:

• verschonen↗ (to spare someone from something negative)
• verlassen↗ (to leave, used when a feeling or state disappears)
• heilen↗ (to heal, effectively reversing the state of being befallen by illness)