onfall

Meaning

Noun

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

Verb

1. To fall on or upon.
2. To assault, attack.

Synonyms

assault

attack

👊

onset

Translations

assalto

aanval

overval

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: onfal

Cognate with Dutch: aanval

Cognate with German: Anfall

Cognate with Swedish: anfall

Cognate with Middle English: onfallynge

In summary

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 (“an onslaught, attack”).