vbl. sb. Obs. [f. ABEAR v. + -ING1.] The action of comporting or behaving oneself; behavior, conduct. Nearly always in the legal phr. good abearing, which early passed into popular use. Supplanted by the hybrid synonym ABEARANCE.
1494. Fabyan, VI. cliv. 141. That there after he shulde be of good aberynge to warde the kyng.
1534. More, Vpon the Passion, Wks. 1557, 1289/1. Man should … haue standen styl vpon the wynning or loosing of heauen after his abearing.
1625. Finch, Law (1636), 338. Sufficient suretie and mainprise for their good abearing towards the king, and towards his people.
1708. Les Termes de la Ley, 371. Good abearing (Bonus gestus) signifies, the exact carriage or behaviour of a subject to a king and his liege-people, to which men sometimes for their loose demeanour are bound.
