Behave
[bɪ'heɪv] or [bɪ'hev]
Definition
(verb.) behave in a certain manner; 'She carried herself well'; 'he bore himself with dignity'; 'They conducted themselves well during these difficult times'.
(verb.) behave well or properly; 'The children must learn to behave'.
Editor: Rena--From WordNet
Definition
(v. t.) To manage or govern in point of behavior; to discipline; to handle; to restrain.
(v. t.) To carry; to conduct; to comport; to manage; to bear; -- used reflexively.
(v. i.) To act; to conduct; to bear or carry one's self; as, to behave well or ill.
Editor: Nell
Synonyms and Synonymous
v. n. Act, conduct one's self, demean one's self, acquit one's self, behave one's self.
Inputed by Claude
Examples
- That he may let me know how you behave, answered Frederick Lamb. Harriette Wilson. The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson.
- How the deuce, my dear, would you have me behave respectfully to such a fool as your brother? William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- You are old enough to leave off boyish tricks, and to behave better, Josephine. Louisa May Alcott. Little Women.
- However that poor little creature is so afraid of his wife, that, if he will only behave decently, I do not mean to publish him. Harriette Wilson. The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson.
- You know your master never deals with those southern traders, and never means to sell any of his servants, as long as they behave well. Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin.
- I never take it off, nor behave differently to the first duchess in the land! Harriette Wilson. The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson.
- You did behave very shamefully. Jane Austen. Emma.
- You have behaved very ill to me, said his lordship. Harriette Wilson. The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson.
- He has behaved very badly. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
- I have behaved very shamefully, very ungenerously, very ungratefully to her, said Shirley. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- I am very sorry if any one has behaved harshly to you,' replied Rose. Charles Dickens. Oliver Twist.
- Upon my honour, I would rather never see you again, than pay my court to anybody who has behaved ill to you. Harriette Wilson. The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson.
- You've behaved sweetly, and I respect you with all my heart, said Jo warmly, as they brushed their hair together late that night. Louisa May Alcott. Little Women.
- I hope he behaved honorably to her and did so; but, alas! Fergus Hume. The Island of Fantasy.
- On the edge of her consciousness the question was asking itself, automatically: 'Why ARE you behaving in this IMPOSSIBLE and ridiculous fashion. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- This is not behaving well by the absent, said she. Jane Austen. Mansfield Park.
- See how well he was behaving? Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
- Bertha has been behaving more than ever like a madwoman, and George's powers of credulity are very nearly exhausted. Edith Wharton. The House of Mirth.
- She was not particularly annoyed at Margaret's way of behaving. Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. North and South.
- Rosamond was convinced that no woman could behave more irreproachably than she was behaving; and she went to sit down at her work-table. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
- He can associate with others on intimate and equal terms only by behaving in the way in which they behave. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- If she behaves well, and continues to suit me as she has suited me to-day, I may do her a good turn. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- Then every time he behaves in this fashion. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- He no longer reacts just to his own hunger, but behaves in the light of what others are doing for its prospective satisfaction. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- When silk and linen are tested, it is found that the former behaves in a general way as did wool, while the linen has more similarity to the cotton. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- He really behaves very well. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
- She behaves pretty well at lessons? Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- You know how odd Rachel is, and how differently she behaves sometimes from other girls, my lady said to me. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
Typist: Malcolm