▪ I. behave, v.
(bɪˈheɪv)
Pa. tense behaved (in 6 behad.)
[Formed, app. in 15th c., from be- 2 + have v., in order to express a qualified sense of have, particularly in the reflexive ‘to have or bear oneself (in a specified way),’ which answers exactly to mod.G. sich behaben. (OE. had behabban = OHG. bihabên, f. be- about + habban to hold, have, in senses ‘encompass, contain, detain’; but there was no historical connexion between that and the 15th c. behave.)]
1. refl. To bear, comport, or conduct oneself; to act: a. with adv. or qualifying phrase, expressing the manner. (Formerly a dignified expression, applied e.g. to the bearing, deportment, and public conduct of persons of distinction; in 17–18th c. commonly used of the way in which soldiers acquit themselves in battle; but now chiefly expressing observance of propriety in personal conduct, and usually as in b. The intr. sense 3, preserves the earlier use.)
| c 1440 Bone Flor. 1567 To lerne hur to behave hur among men. 1474 Caxton Chesse 74 Ony man that wylle truly behaue hym self. a 1520 Myrr. Our Ladye 241 Yet in all her trybulacions she behad her so paciently. 1533 Bellenden Livy i. (1822) 15 The mair princely that he behad him in his dignite riall. 1611 Bible 1 Chron. xix. 13 Let vs behaue our selues valiantly for our people. 1665 Manley Grotius' Low-C. Warres 303 The Sea-men..would be ready to mutiny for their Pay, and threaten to behave themselves as Enemies. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 2 ¶4 He was some Years a Captain, and behaved himself with great Galantry in several Engagements. 1715 in Lond. Gaz. No. 5390/2 The Clans behave themselves with great Insolence. 1733 Pendarves in Swift's Lett. (1768) IV. 39 Let me know if I have behaved myself right. 1823 Scott F.M. Perth III. 303 The Chief had behaved himself with the most determined courage. |
b. Without qualification: To conduct oneself well, or (in modern use) with propriety. Now chiefly said of children or young people, who might possibly misbehave themselves.
| 1691 Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) II. 209 The French King hath given large gratuities to Mr. Vauban and other officers that behaved themselves before Mons. Mod. colloq. If you cannot behave yourself, you had better stay at home. Mod. Sc. maxim, ‘Behave yourself before folk.’ |
c. transf. of things: To comport itself in any relation, to act (towards other things).
| 1541 R. Copland Galyen's Terap. 2 B j b, Euery thyng that behaueth it wel and is accordyng to nature. 1650 Fuller Pisgah i. xi. 36 If these three Provinces be..compared together, they behave themselves as followeth. 1674 N. Fairfax Bulk & Selv. 54 How the Worlds vastness behaves it self towards Gods Immensity. |
† 2. trans. To handle, manage, wield, conduct, regulate (in some specified way). Obs.
| 1526 Skelton Magnyf. 1366 Without crafte nothynge is well behavyd. 1557 North Gueuara's Dial. Pr. (1585) 277 These pinchpenies do behave their persons so evil, etc. 1596 Spenser F.Q. ii. iii. 40 Who his limbs with labours and his mind Behaues with cares, cannot so easie mis. 1607 Shakes. Timon iii. v. 22 With such sober and vnnoted passion He did behaue [printed behooue] his anger. |
3. intr.: in same senses as 1 a and b (which it now to a great extent replaces).
| 1719 Young Revenge i. i, As you behave, Your father's kindness stabs me to the heart. 1812 Ld. Cathcart in Examiner 12 Oct. 649/1 Those who were engaged behaved well. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. 678 He behaved like a man of sense and spirit. 1866 Kingsley Herew. vii. 129 She behaved not over wisely or well. 1872 Ruskin Eagle's Nest §161 You must very..thoroughly know how to behave. |
b. to behave towards or behave to: to conduct oneself in regard to, act, deal with, treat (in any way).
| 1754 Chatham Lett. Nephew iv. 24 As to your manner of behaving towards these unhappy young gentlemen. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 51 Did you ever behave ill to your father or your mother? Mod. They have behaved very handsomely to you. |
c. transf. of things.
| 1854 Scoffern in Orr's Circ. Sc. Chem. 463 It combines violently with water, behaving like the bichloride of tin. 1871 B. Stewart Heat §38 Glass will also behave in a very different manner according as it is annealed or unannealed. |
▪ II. † beˈhave, n. Obs.
[f. prec.]
= behaviour.
| 1615 Chapman Odyss. xxii. 545 Only there were twelve that gave Themselves to impudence and light behave. |