c.1410, from be- intensive prefix + have in the sense of "to have or bear oneself in a particular way, comport." O.E. behabban meant "to contain." Behavior is 1490, from havour, altered (by influence of have) from aver, from O.Fr. aveir "to have." Behaviorism coined 1913 by U.S. psychologist John B. Watson (1878-1958).
behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself; "You should act like an adult"; "Don't behave like a fool"; "What makes her do this way?"; "The dog acts ferocious, but he is really afraid of people" [syn: act]
2.
behave in a certain manner; "She carried herself well"; "he bore himself with dignity"; "They conducted themselves well during these difficult times"
3.
behave well or properly; "The children must learn to behave" [ant: misbehave]
to act in a suitable way, to conduct oneself (well) Example: If you come, you must behave (yourself); The child always behaves (himself) at his grandmother's.
Main Entry: be·have Pronunciation: bi-'hAv Function: verb Inflected Forms: be·haved;be·hav·ing transitive
senses : to bear or conduct (oneself) in a particular way behaveintransitive senses : to act, function, or react in a particular way
Be*have"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Behaved; p. pr. & vb. n. Behaving.] [AS. behabban to surround, restrain, detain (akin to G. gehaben (obs.) to have, sich gehaben to behave or carry one's self); pref. be- + habban to have. See Have, v. t. ]1. To manage or govern in point of behavior; to discipline; to handle; to restrain. [Obs.] He did behave his anger ere 't was spent. --Shak. 2. To carry; to conduct; to comport; to manage; to bear; -- used reflexively. Those that behaved themselves manfully. --2 Macc. ii. 21.
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Audio Help [bi-heyv] Pronunciation Key verb, -haved, -hav·ing. 
