BEHAVE

act, behave, do

(verb) behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself; “You should act like an adult”; “Don’t behave like a fool”; “What makes her do this way?”; “The dog acts ferocious, but he is really afraid of people”

behave, acquit, bear, deport, conduct, comport, carry

(verb) behave in a certain manner; “She carried herself well”; “he bore himself with dignity”; “They conducted themselves well during these difficult times”

behave, comport

(verb) behave well or properly; “The children must learn to behave”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Verb

behave (third-person singular simple present behaves, present participle behaving, simple past and past participle behaved)

(reflexive) To conduct (oneself) well, or in a given way.

(intransitive) To act, conduct oneself in a specific manner; used with an adverbial of manner.

(obsolete, transitive) To conduct, manage, regulate (something).

(intransitive) To act in a polite or proper way.

Source: Wiktionary

Be*have", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Behaved; p. pr. & vb. n. Behaving.] Etym: [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. ]

1. To manage or govern in point of behavior; to discipline; to handle; to restrain. [Obs.] He did behave his anger ere 't was spent. Shak.

2. To carry; to conduct; to comport; to manage; to bear; -- used reflexively. Those that behaved themselves manfully. 2 Macc. ii. 21.

Be*have", v. i.

Definition: To act; to conduct; to bear or carry one's self; as, to behave well or ill.

Note: 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.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition