Pa. t. behaved (in 6 behad.) [Formed, app. in 15th c., from BE- 2 + HAVE v., in order to express a qualified sense of have, particularly in the reflexive ‘to have or bear oneself (in a specified way),’ which answers exactly to mod.G. sich behaben. (OE. had behabban = OHG. bihabên, f. BE- about + habban to hold, HAVE, in senses ‘encompass, contain, detain’; but there was no historical connection between that and the 15th c. behave.)]
1. refl. To bear, comport or conduct oneself; to act: a. with adv. or qualifying phrase, expressing the manner. (Formerly a dignified expression, applied, e.g., to the bearing, deportment and public conduct of persons of distinction; in 17–18th c. commonly used of the way in which soldiers acquit themselves in battle; but now chiefly expressing observance of propriety in personal conduct, and usually as in b. The intr. sense 3, preserves the earlier use.)
c. 1440. Bone Flor., 1567. To lerne hur to behave hur among men.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, 74. Ony man that wylle truly behaue hym self.
a. 1520. Myrr. Our Ladye, 241. Yet in all her trybulacions she behad her so paciently.
1533. Bellenden, Livy, I. (1822), 15. The mair princely that he behad him in his dignite riall.
1611. Bible, 1 Chron. xix. 13. Let vs behaue our selues valiantly for our people.
1665. Manley, Grotius’ Low-C. Warres, 303. The Sea-men … would be ready to mutiny for their Pay, and threaten to behave themselves as Enemies.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 2, ¶ 4. He was some Years a Captain, and behaved himself with great Galantry in several Engagements.
1715. in Lond. Gaz., No. 5390/2. The Clans behave themselves with great Insolence.
1733. Pendarves, in Swift’s Lett. (1768), IV. 39. Let me know if I have behaved myself right.
1823. Scott, F. M. Perth, III. 303. The Chief had behaved himself with the most determined courage.
b. Without qualification: To conduct oneself well, or (in modern use) with propriety. Now chiefly said of children or young people, who might possibly misbehave themselves.
1691. Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), II. 209. The French King hath given large gratuities to Mr. Vauban and other officers that behaved themselves before Mons.
Mod. colloq. If you cannot behave yourself, you had better stay at home.
Mod. Sc. maxim, ‘Behave yourself before folk.’
c. transf. of things: To comport itself in any relation, to act (towards other things).
1541. R. Copland, Galyen’s Terap., 2 B j b. Euery thyng that behaueth it wel and is accordyng to nature.
1650. Fuller, Pisgah, I. xi. 36. If these three Provinces be … compared together, they behave themselves as followeth.
1674. N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., 54. How the Worlds vastness behaves it self towards Gods Immensity.
† 2. trans. To handle, manage, wield, conduct, regulate (in some specified way). Obs.
1526. Skelton, Magnyf., 1366. Without crafte nothynge is well behavyd.
1557. North, trans. Gueuara’s Diall Pr. (1585), 277. These pinchpenies do behave their persons so evil, [etc.].
1596. Spenser, F. Q., II. iii. 40. Who his limbs with labours and his mind Behaues with cares, cannot so easie mis.
1607. Shaks., Timon, III. v. 22. With such sober and vnnoted passion He did behaue [printed behooue] his anger.
3. intr.: in same senses as 1 a. and b. (which it now to a great extent replaces).
1719. Young, Revenge, I. i. As you behave, Your father’s kindness stabs me to the heart.
1812. Ld. Cathcart, in Examiner, 12 Oct., 649/1. Those [troops from Moscow] who were engaged behaved well.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., III. 678. He behaved like a man of sense and spirit.
1866. Kingsley, Herew., vii. 129. She behaved not over wisely or well.
1872. Ruskin, Eagle’s N., § 161. You must very … thoroughly know how to behave.
b. To behave towards or to: to conduct oneself in regard to, act, deal with, treat (in any way).
1754. Chatham, Lett. Nephew, iv. 24. As to your manner of behaving towards these unhappy young gentlemen.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 51. Did you ever behave ill to your father or your mother?
Mod. They have behaved very handsomely to you.
c. transf. of things.
1854. Scoffern, in Orr’s Circ. Sc. Chem., 463. It combines violently with water, behaving like the bichloride of tin similarly treated.
1871. B. Stewart, Heat, § 38. Glass will also behave in a very different manner according as it is annealed or unannealed.
