BEHOOVE


Meaning of BEHOOVE in English

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

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.