Webster's English Dictionary

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behave

be.have \bi-'ha-v\ vb [ME behaven, fr. be- + haven to have, hold] 1: to 
   bear or comport (oneself) in a particular way  2: to conduct (oneself) in a 
   proper manner  1: to act, function, or react in a particular way  2: to 
   conduct oneself properlyM mean when used with a reflexive to act or to 
   cause oneself to do something in a certain way. BEHAVE implies meeting a 
   standard usu. of what is proper or decorous; CONDUCT implies action or 
   behavior that shows the extent of one's power to control or direct oneself; 
   DEPORT implies behaving so as to show how far one conforms to conventional 
   rules of discipline or propriety; COMPORT suggests conduct measured by what 
   is expected or required of one in a certain class or position; ACQUIT 
   applies to action under stress that deserves praise or meets expectations 
   SYN syn BEHAVE, CONDUCT, DEPORT, COMPORT, ACQUIT)