Nearby Words

behaved

[bih-heyv] Origin

be·have

[bih-heyv] verb, -haved, -hav·ing.
verb (used without object)
1.
to act in a particular way; conduct or comport oneself or itself: The ship behaves well.
2.
to act properly: Did the child behave?
3.
to act or react under given circumstances: This plastic behaves strangely under extreme heat or cold.
verb (used with object)
4.
to conduct or comport (oneself) in a proper manner: Sit quietly and behave yourself.

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Behaved is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.

Origin:
1400–50; late Middle English behaven (reflexive). See be-, have

un·be·hav·ing, adjective
well-be·haved, adjective


1. perform, acquit oneself, deport oneself.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

behave
early 15c., from be- intensive prefix + have; the sense is "to have or bear (oneself) in a particular way, comport" (cf. Ger. sich behaben, Fr. se porter). Cognate O.E. compound behabban meant "to contain," though the modern sense of behave could have
EXPAND
evolved from behabban via a notion of "self-restraint."
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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