Now rare. [a. F. comportement bearing, behavior, f. comporter: see -MENT.]
1. Personal bearing, carriage, demeanor, deportment; behavior, outward conduct, course of action. † Formerly also in pl., Proceedings, conduct.
1599. Sandys, Europae Spec., 152. [Urban VIII.] very magnificall and ceremoniall in his outward comportment.
1605. Camden, Rem., 213. Whosoever will … consider the comportment of the English Nation.
1631. Weever, Anc. Fun. Mon., 157. The better to maintaine their high state and comportement.
1647. Clarendon, Contempl. Ps., Tracts (1727), 468. He will … make his comportment fuller of decency and majesty.
1650. Howell, Masaniello, I. 126. The causes of his tyrannicall comportments.
1756. W. Toldervy, Two Orphans, I. 96. His Christian and religious comportment in his sickness.
† b. So C. of oneself, of one’s body. Obs.
1657. Divine Lover, 16. Exacter obseruance of our Regular Discipline, and other good externe comportment of our selues.
1663. Cowley, The College. A graceful comportment of their bodies.
† c. Dealing with a person. Obs.
1697. J. Serjeant, Solid Philos., 272. A Summary of our Comportment with all others of our own kind.
a. 1734. North, Lives (1826), II. v. 152. A due account of his nearer comportment with his Majesty upon the subject of the new methods.
1736. Carte, Ormonde, II. 25. As to his comportment with Clanricarde Taaffe and the Irish.
d. Of a thing: ‘Behavior,’ manner of comporting itself (under specified conditions).
1845. Proc. Berw. Nat. Club, II. xiii. 137. Its comportment before the blowpipe.
† 2. ? Something officially carried or borne. Obs.
1631. Weever, Anc. Fun. Mon., 487. The Pastorall Staffe … being their onely comportment.
† 3. Accordance, consistent action. Obs. rare.
1675. Howe, Living Temple, Wks. (1834), 99 a. The whole course of Divine dispensation … imports a steady Comportment with this necessity.
