Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
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verb
To conduct (oneself) well, or in a given way; to conform.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: reflexive
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To act, conduct oneself in a specific manner; used with an adverbial of manner.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Synonyms: deport, tread, acquit
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To conduct, manage, regulate (something).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To act in a polite or proper way.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: act, do
Antonyms: none provided
Narrower terms: act involuntarily, act reflexively, fall over backwards, bend over backwards, presume, vulgarize, vulgarise, optimize, optimise, quack, menace, make, swagger, bluster, swash, freeze, wanton, romanticize, sentimentalise, sentimentalize, sentimentize, sentimentise, bungle, play, toy, act, act as, stooge, joke, jest, piffle, make as if, break down, lose it, snap, dally, dawdle, backslap, hugger mugger, sauce, footle, frivol, trifle, swell, puff up, follow, relax, loosen up, ramp, rage, storm
verb
behave in a certain manner
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: acquit, bear, deport, conduct, comport, carry
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: hold, carry, bear, act, move
Narrower terms: fluster, assert, put forward, deal, walk around, pose, posture
verb
behave well or properly
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: comport
Antonyms: misbehave
Broader terms: act, move
Narrower terms: walk, assert oneself, remember oneself
History
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h1ep-der. Proto-Indo-European *h1épsder. Proto-Indo-European *h1epider. Proto-Indo-European *h1pi Proto-Germanic *bider. Proto-Germanic *bi- Proto-West Germanic *bi- substratebor.? Proto-Indo-European *kap-der. Proto-Germanic *habjaną Proto-West Germanic *habbjan Proto-West Germanic *bihabbjan Old English behabban Middle English behaven English behave From Middle English behaven, bihabben (“to restrain, behave”), from Old English behabban (“to surround, embrace, hold, contain, hold back, withhold, restrain”), from Proto-West Germanic *bihabbjan, equivalent to be- + have. Cognate with Middle Low German behebben, behāven (“to receive, acquire, reach, keep”), Low German behebben (“to act, behave”), German behaben (“to behave”).
Across languages
141 source translations are retained for this English entry.
