* To happen to someone or something, especially something unpleasant or unfortunate.
For example:
* "A terrible tragedy befell the family."
* "Misfortune befell the travelers on their journey."
It can also be used in a more neutral sense:
* "What befell the lost city remains a mystery."
"Befell" is a formal and literary word, not commonly used in everyday speech. It's often used in historical writing or in stories with a more dramatic tone.