|misbə̇|hāv, -spə̇- verb
Etymology: Middle English misbehaven, from mis- (I) + behaven to behave — more at behave
transitive verb
: to conduct (oneself) badly or improperly
misbehaved himself in school
misbehaved herself with several men
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to behave with disregard for accepted moral standards especially in sexual relations
invited a man to her room and misbehaved with him — Time
b. : to behave with disregard for good manners or courtesy
ran through the train, shouting and misbehaving
c. : to behave in a cowardly or unmilitary manner
convicted … of misbehaving in the face of the enemy — Associated Press
2. : to behave in an unexpected or unwelcome way
does the water you use in processing or as a raw material misbehave — Chem. Engineering News
3. : to act as if not housebroken
a pigeon misbehaves itself on his shoulder — H.J.Laski
• mis·be·hav·er -və(r) noun -s