behavior
nounUK /bɪˈheɪ.vjə/ · CA, US /bɪˈheɪ.vjəɹ/
Etymology From Middle English behavoure, behaver, from behaven (modern behave), morphologically equivalent to behave + -ior. The suffix was adopted in imitation of havour (modern haviour, havior), an etymologically unrelated word that was corrupted from Anglo‐Norman Anglo-Norman aveir and Old French Old French avoir (“property, wealth”) through false association with the native English verb have. The French term derives ultimately from Latin Latin habēre (“to have, hold”). Compare Scots havings (“behavior”), from have (“to behave”). Replaced Old English ġebǣru.
US, Usually Human conduct relative to social norms.
- Teachers will probably be on their best behaviour for your visit – but don't be upset if they don't even notice you; they've got enough going on.2014 September 23, A teacher, “Choosing a primary school: a teacher's guide for parents”, in The Guardian:
US, Usually The way or manner a living creature behaves or acts generally.
- He was on his best behavior when her family visited.
Biology, Human sciences, Natural sciences, Psychology, Sciences US, Usually An observable response produced by an organism.
US, Usually The way a device or system operates.
- Synonyms
- comportment, conduct, demeanor, deportment
- Derived terms
- behavioral, behavioralism, behavioralist, behavioral science, behavioreme, behaviorism, behaviorist, behavioristic, behaviormetric, behaviormetrics, behavior pattern, behaviorwise, body-focused repetitive behavior disorder, dialectical behavior therapy, disordered money behavior, eigenbehavior, health behavior, human behavior, ideal-seeking behavior, macrobehavior, misbehavior, neurobehavior, photobehavior, routine response behavior
- Related terms
- behave