bə̇ˈhāv, bē- verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English behaven, from be- + haven to have — more at have
transitive verb
1.
a. : to bear or comport (oneself) in a particular way
the plaintiff behaved himself with great composure
b. : to conduct (oneself) in a correct, obedient, or proper manner
he behaved himself, got good marks, never made a fuss, was always right — G.W.Brace
2. obsolete : restrain , regulate
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to act or react in a particular way
he behaved to the emperor as an equal — Edith Sitwell
under fire the troops behaved admirably
b. : to conform to the accepted patterns of society
his conscience that is trying to make him behave — Weston La Barre
: do the right thing or what one is told
children who won't behave
2.
a. : to perform or function in a particular way
all vehicles behaved well on their test runs
b. : to react under stimulus in a particular way
the alloy behaved unpredictably under intense heat
Synonyms:
conduct , comport , demean , deport , acquit , quit : behave indicates performing various actions or saying various things in the manner indicated by modifiers
one must keep one's contracts, and behave as persons of honor and breeding should behave — Rose Macaulay
you will bitterly reproach him in your own heart, and seriously think that he has behaved very badly to you — Oscar Wilde
Used without modifiers, it indicates action and conduct adjudged proper and seemly; in this use it is common in relation to children and adolescents
the average parent is likely to say that the child behaves if the child conforms to what the parent thinks is right — Morris Fishbein
conduct often applies to actions showing direction or control of one's actions or bearing with command, will, knowledge, and resolution
he conducted himself with patience and tact, endeavoring to enforce the laws and to check any revolutionary moves — W.E.Stevens
comport , in this sense always reflexive, is somewhat more formal than behave and conduct but lacks any other special suggestion
the missionaries … comported themselves in a way that did not rouse general antagonism or they could have been easily ousted — E.H.Spicer
a man is judged now by how well he comports himself in the face of danger — J.W.Aldridge
after having seen him thus publicly comport himself, but one course was open to me — to cut his acquaintance — W.M.Thackeray
In this sense demean and deport are close synonyms for comport; the former is becoming rare
it shall be my earnest endeavor to demean myself with grateful respect towards her — Jane Austen
The latter may suggest deportment according to a code
Dido and Aeneas, in the “Roman d'Eneas”, deport themselves in accordance with the strictest canons of courtly love — J.L.Lowes
acquit and quit , the latter archaic, are always used reflexively in this sense; they are likely to apply to action deserving praise or meeting expectations
I trust we acquit ourselves worthily as custodians of this sacred mystery — Elinor Wylie
he then acquitted himself well as a hard-working and level-headed chairman of the judiciary committee of the House — C.C.Pearson
the endless heroes of life and death who still bravely meet their separate hours … and quit themselves like men — Yale Review
Synonym: see in addition act .