# behave

Pronunciation: say "bi-HAYV" /bɪˈheɪv/

## Verb

1. To act in a polite and proper way, as good company and social occasions call for.
   - Simple: To act in a polite, well-mannered way, especially around other people.
   - _Guests are expected to behave with courtesy at formal dinners._
   - _She behaved impeccably throughout the long ceremony._
2. To act or conduct oneself in a particular manner, as specified by an accompanying adverb of manner.
   - Simple: To act in a certain way, shown by a word that tells how someone or something acts.
   - _Gases behave predictably under constant temperature and pressure._
   - _He behaves aggressively whenever he feels cornered._
3. To conduct oneself well, or in a specified way; to conform to what is expected.
   - Simple: To control yourself and act in a good or proper way.
   - _Visitors are asked to behave themselves inside the temple._
   - _She behaved herself impeccably at her first formal banquet._

## Verb

4. To conduct, manage, or regulate something external, such as an estate or affairs. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To manage or direct something, such as affairs or business.
   - _A good master must behave his household with firmness and fairness._
   - _The steward behaved the estate's finances until the heir came of age._

## Origin

From Middle English behaven, bihabben ("to restrain, behave"), from Old English behabban ("to surround, hold, contain, hold back, restrain"), from Proto-West Germanic *bihabbjan, equivalent to be- + have. It is related to German behaben ("to behave").

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/behave (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).