† afallv.

Etymology: Cognate with or formed similarly to Old High German irfallen to fall down (reflexive; Middle High German ervallen to fall down, to attack, early modern German erfallen to fall down, to kill) < the Germanic base of or- prefix (compare a- prefix¹) + the Germanic base of fall v. Compare of-fall v., and also arise v.In Old English a strong verb of Class VII. The word is not to be confused with later examples of a-falling , now apprehended as an intensive formation on the present participle of fall v., but in origin showing a prep.¹ 11 and the verbal noun or gerund; compare:1684 J. Bunyan Pilgrim's Progress 2nd Pt. 190 He would harken to no Counsel, but once afalling, perswasion could not stop him.1686 J. Wyborne Let. 6 Sept. in Statist. Acct. Town & Island of Bombay (1894) II. iv. 272 The fort at Máhim is not worth a doit and the house is afalling down.1732 T. Fuller Gnomologia 242 When a Tree is once a falling, every one cries, down with it.1891 A. Austin Human Trag. (ed. 4) i. 53 Falling fountain-sprays subduedly tinkled, And, as they kept afalling, still retraced The broken fragile rain-dome which they sprinkled.Compare also English regional (south-western) a-falled , past participle of fall v. (compare a- prefix² and forms at fall v.):1834 G. Roberts Hist. Lyme Regis 253 Hurn, thick cheeld's a-falled down flop; run, that child is fallen down, and given itself a good blow.1880 L. Parr Adam & Eve II. i. 22 You be off in, and tell mother I've afalled down in the mill-house.Compare also Caribbean English forms in a- , verbal prefix marking durative aspect (apparently of West African origin, although probably influenced by the construction with a prep.¹ 11 noted above):1970 A. Salkey in R. Carr Brixton Bwoy (1998) p. v An a so de rain a-fall An a so de snow a-rain.1985 D. C. Dance Folklore from Contemp. Jamaicans iii. 48 And when the duppy see the pudding-pan coming down, him said, ‘Pretty, pretty moon a fell down pon me.’