behave

Meaning

Verb

• To conduct (oneself) well, or in a given way.
• To act, conduct oneself in a specific manner;
• To conduct, manage, regulate (something).
• To act in a polite or proper way.

Origin

• From Middle English behaven, bihabben, from Old English behabban, from Proto-West Germanic *bihabbjan, equivalent to be- + have. Cognate with Middle Low German behebben, behāven, Low German behebben, German behaben.