behave

• POS: Verb (intransitive)
• HYPHEN: be=have
• COUNT in NET: 20 in 20 verses (in OT : 15 in 15 verses) (in NT : 5 in 5 verses)

CIDE DICTIONARY

behave, v. t. [AS. behabban to surround, restrain, detain (akin to G. gehaben (obs.) to have, sich gehaben to behave or carry one's self); pref. be- + habban to have. See Have, v. t. ].

•  To manage or govern in point of behavior; to discipline; to handle; to restrain.  [1913 Webster]

  "He did behave his anger ere 't was spent."  [1913 Webster]
•  To carry; to conduct; to comport; to manage; to bear; -- used reflexively.  [1913 Webster]

  "Those that behaved themselves manfully."  [1913 Webster]

behave, v. i. 

 To act; to conduct; to bear or carry one's self; as, to behave well or ill.  [1913 Webster]
" This verb is often used colloquially without an adverb of manner; as, if he does not behave, he will be punished. It is also often applied to inanimate objects; as, the ship behaved splendidly."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

behave, v.
1 intr. a act or react (in a specified way) (behaved well). b (esp. to or of a child) conduct oneself properly. c (of a machine etc.) work well (or in a specified way) (the computer is not behaving today).
2 refl. (esp. of or to a child) show good manners (behaved herself).

Idiom

behave towards treat (in a specified way). ill-behaved having bad manners or conduct. well-behaved having good manners or conduct.

Etymology

BE- + HAVE

THESAURUS

behave

acquit, act, act toward, act well, be good, be nice, bear, behave toward, carry, comport, conduct, control, cope with, deal by, deal with, demean, deport, direct, disport, do, do by, do right, function, go on, handle, make, make as if, manage, misbehave, move, operate, perform, play, play the game, practice, proceed, quit, react, respond to, serve, take, treat, use, work