sopravvenire

to arise unexpectedly, to supervene

verb soh-prahv-veh-NEE-reh Rare

Also means

to occur suddenly

Usage Note

Sopravvenire describes something that arises or intervenes unexpectedly — an obstacle, a complication, or a death. It is intransitive and uses essere as its auxiliary, so past participle agrees with the subject: è sopravvenuta una complicazione. It is a formal or literary verb; in everyday speech succedere or capitare are preferred.

Examples

"È sopravvenuta una difficoltà imprevista."

Natural Translation

An unforeseen difficulty arose unexpectedly.

Literal Translation

There-has arisen an unforeseen difficulty.

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