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| v. be·haved, be·hav·ing, be·haves v. intr. 1. a. To conduct oneself or act in a specified way: One of the guests behaved badly at the party. Our old dog sometimes behaves like a puppy. b. To conduct oneself or act in a proper way: I told the child to behave. 2. To act, react, function, or perform in a particular way: This fabric behaves well even in hot weather. v. tr. 1. To conduct (oneself) properly: Did you behave yourself at the party? 2. To conduct (oneself) in a specified way: The witness behaved herself with great calmness. [Middle English behaven : be-, be- + haven, to have; see HAVE.] |
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