sb. Forms: 5–6 behauour(e, 6–7 behauiour(e, -ior, 6 behauer, -eour(e, behauyour, 7 behauor, behavier, ? 6– behaviour. [f. BEHAVE v., by form-analogy with HAVOUR, havyoure, common 15–16th c. forms of the word which was orig. AVER sb. (q.v.), aveyr, also in 15th c. avoir; really OF. aveir, avoir, in sense of ‘having, possession,’ but naturally affiliated in Eng. to the native verb have, and spelt haver, havour, haviour, etc. Hence, by analogy, have: havour, -iour: behave: behavour, -iour. The formation might be confirmed by the (apparently) parallel demeanour, from demean (oneself). For the -iour see HAVOUR.]
1. Manner of conducting oneself in the external relations of life; demeanor, deportment, bearing, manners.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, xxxi. 120. For hys honneste behauoure [he] began to be taken with his loue.
1530. Bale, Thre Lawes, 53. In clennes of lyfe and in a gentyll behauer.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., III. iv. 202. The behauiour of the yong Gentleman, giues him out to be of good capacity, and breeding.
1754. Chatham, Lett. Nephew, v. 32. Behaviour is of infinite advantage or prejudice to a man.
1797. Godwin, Enquirer, I. xiii. 111. Their behaviour is forced and artificial.
1862. H. Spencer, First Princ., II. i. § 36. Special directions for behaviour in the nursery, at table, or on the exchange.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), IV. 226. His courage is shown by his behaviour in the battle.
† b. The plural was formerly also in use. Obs.
1538. Bale, Comedy, in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), I. 211. Your fastynges, longe prayers, with other holy behauers.
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., I. ii. 42. Which giue some soyle (perhaps) to my Behauiours.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., I. iv. § 19. 366. To observe the actions, manners and Behaviours of men.
† c. The bearing of the character of another; personification, ‘person.’ Obs.
1595. Shaks., John, I. i. 3. Thus speakes the King of France, In my behauiour, to the Maiesty … of England heere.
† d. ‘External appearance with respect to grace.’ Johnson. Obs.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia (1633), 73 (J.). Thyrsis … having marked in Dorus dancing, no lesse good grace and handsome behaviour, than extreme tokens of a troubled mind.
1639. Fuller, Holy War, I. vi. (1840), 8. [Mahometanism] having neither real substance in her doctrine, nor winning behavior in her ceremonies to allure professors.
e. absol. Good manners, elegant deportment.
1591. Lambarde, Archeion (1635), 91. A man of behaviour and countenance.
1700. De Foe, True-Born Eng., II. 28.
| Their strong Aversion to Behaviour’s such, | |
| They always talk too little, or too much. |
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 119, ¶ 1. By Manners I do not mean Morals, but Behaviour and Good-breeding.
2. Conduct, general practice, course of life; course of action towards or to others, treatment of others.
1515. Barclay, Cyt. & Uplondyshm. (1847), 70. All people of good behavour By rightwise battayle, justice and equitie.
1535. Coverdale, 1 Macc. xiv. 35. His godly behauoure, and faithfulnesse which he kepte vnto them.
1584. Powel, Lloyd’s Cambria, 88. By his rich gifts and princely Behauior.
1641. J. Jackson, True Evang. Temp., II. 124. The blamelesse behaviour of the Christians.
1719. Young, Revenge, I. i. This severe behaviour Has, to my comfort, made it sweet to die.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., IV. 251. Recognizances, for the peace, and for the good behaviour.
1858. Froude, Hist. Eng., IV. xviii. 36. Henry’s early behaviour to James.
3. Phrase. To be (or stand) on or upon one’s behavior, or one’s good behavior: to be placed on a trial of conduct or deportment, to be in a situation in which a failure in conduct will have untoward consequences; hence, to behave one’s best.
1538. Starkey, England, 196. And much bettur hyt were that they schuld stond apon theyr behavyour.
1698. Norris, Pract. Disc., IV. 261. Man … is now upon his Behaviour in order to a Better World.
1689. Sherlock, Death, i. § 1 (1731), 20. Adam … was but upon his good Behaviour, was but a Probationer for Immortality.
1779. Burke, in Boswell, Johnson, III. 172. I should be obliged to be so much upon my good behaviour.
1831. The Democrat, 10 March, 3/1. This Bank, in must be recollected, is now on its best behavior.
Mod. Tell the children to be on their best behavior.
† 4. Handling, management, disposition of (anything); bearing (of body). Obs.
1549. Coverdale, Erasm. Par. 1 Peter, 8. Welfavourednes of beautie, and behaviour of apparel.
1563. Homilies, II. Fasting (1859), 281. Both with words and behavour of body to shew themselves weary of this life.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie (Arb.), 262. Your misplacing and preposterous placing is not all one in behaviour of language.
5. transf. The manner in which a thing acts under specified conditions or circumstances, or in relation to other things.
1674. N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., 82. All local habitude or behaviour must be between two things or more, in a place so or so.
1866. Argyll, Reign Law, ii. 67. In Chemistry the behaviour of different substances towards each other, in respect to combination and affinity.
1878. Huxley, Physiogr., 135. To watch … the behaviour of the water which drains off a flat coast of mud.
1882. Daily Tel., 4 May. The behaviour of the vessel during her maiden voyage across the Atlantic.
