bə̇ˈhüv, bē- verb
or be·hove -hōv
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English behoven from Old English behōfian, from behōf
transitive verb
1. obsolete : to have need of : require
2.
a. : to be morally or ethically necessary for — usually used impersonally
it behooves the archaeologist as a scientist to work objectively — G.W.Brainerd
b. : to be fittng or proper for
he played the piano well, as behooved the son of a musical father
— usually used impersonally
it behooved Punch to fold up his clothes neatly on going to bed — Rudyard Kipling
3. : to be worthwhile, advantageous, or profitable for — chiefly used impersonally
it would behoove us to examine our motives
intransitive verb
1. : to be necessary, fit, or proper — used especially with it as the subject
it behoved to pass these points swiftly and unobtrusively — John Buchan
2. now Scotland : to be in duty bound : be obliged
we behoove to rejoice at it — E.B.Ramsay