fallen
UK: ˈfɔːlən | US: ˈfɔːlən
adj. 1. having dropped or come down from a higher position
adj. 2. no longer standing or upright
adj. 3. (archaic/literary) morally degraded or defeated
v. (past participle of "fall")
The word "fallen" originates from Old English feallan (to drop, descend), derived from Proto-Germanic fallaną. The suffix -en marks the past participle, a common Germanic construction. Over time, "fallen" evolved from a literal sense of physical descent to metaphorical uses (e.g., moral decline). The root "fall" retains its core meaning across Germanic languages, reflecting a stable conceptual link between physical and abstract "falling."
The fallen leaves covered the path in autumn.
The statue lay fallen after the storm.
He was a fallen hero, betrayed by his own ambition.
She tripped over a fallen branch.
The city mourned its fallen soldiers.