behave

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to act in a certain manner

   The kids are behaving nicely.

2. 2
   verb

   to behave well or properly

   The children must learn to behave.

3. 3
   verb

   To conduct (oneself) well, or in a given way; to conform.

   You need to behave yourself, young lady.

4. 4
   verb

   To act, conduct oneself in a specific manner; used with an adverbial of manner.

   He behaves like a child whenever she's around.

5. 5
   verb

   To conduct, manage, regulate (something).

   He did behave his anger ere 'twas spent.

6. 6
   verb

   To act in a polite or proper way.

   His mother threatened to spank him if he didn't behave.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁ep-der. Proto-Indo-European *h₁epsder. Proto-Indo-European *h₁epider. Proto-Indo-European *h₁pi Proto-Germanic *bider. Proto-Germanic *bi- Proto-West Germanic *bi- Proto-Indo-European *kap-der. Proto-Germanic *habjaną Proto-West Germanic *habbjan Proto-West Germanic *bihabbjan Old English behabban Middle English behaven English behave From Middle English behaven, bihabben (“to restrain, behave”), from Old English behabban (“to surround, embrace, hold, contain, hold back, withhold, restrain”), from Proto-West Germanic *bihabbjan, equivalent to be- + have. C…