onfall

Meanings

Noun

• A falling on or upon; an attack, onset, or assault.
• A fall of rain or snow.
• The fall of the evening.

Verb

• To fall on or upon.
• To assault, attack.

Origin

• From Middle English onfal, onfalle, equivalent to on- + fall. Cognate with Dutch aanval ("an attack, assault"), German Anfall ("an attack, seizure, fit"), Swedish anfall ("an attack, offensive, assault"). Compare also Middle English onfallynge.