BEHAVE, BEHAVED, BEHAVIOUR
ADJECTIVES
1589 — BEHAVIOURED behaved, conducted, mannered → obs.
1633 — CARRIAGED behaved, mannered; having a carriage, deportment, bearing → obs.
1768 — PRETTY-BEHAVED well-behaved; polite, respectable
1825 — GRACIE devout, religious; well-behaved → Sc.
1862 — ILL-DOING badly behaved → Sc.
1865 — ILL-GAITED — ILL-GATED badly behaved → Sc. & Eng. dial.
1869 — CADDISH poorly behaved; ill-mannered, vulgar; dishonourable, ungentlemanly
1870 — ILL-SHAPED badly behaved → Sc.
1878 — PRETTY of a child: pleasant, well-behaved → Amer. dial.
1880 — ILL-CONTRIVED badly behaved, ill-tempered, tricky, mischievous → Sc. & Eng. dial.
1880 — ILL-CONTRIVING badly behaved, ill-tempered, tricky, mischievous → Sc. & Eng. dial.
1897 — NO-CLASS showing no refinement in behaviour → Amer. sl.
1900 — GRADELY-LIKE well-behaved → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
1905 — ILL-SPUED badly behaved → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
ADVERBS
1613 — PRETTILY politely, nicely, in a well-behaved manner
NOUNS
..888 — TIGHT behaviour, good breeding; bringing up, rearing, training, education → obs.
1205 — LATES behaviour, looks, manners → obs.
1300 — AFAITEMENT proper behaviour, training, breeding → obs.
1315 — ABEAR behaviour, bearing, gesture, action → obs.
1400 — BEAR behaviour, bearing → obs.
1413 — HABIT behaviour, bearing, demeanour, deportment; posture → obs.
1489 — THOWLESSNESS evil or immoral conduct; bad behaviour; wantonness; vice → Sc. obs.
1494 — ABEARING behaviour, conduct; the act of comporting or behaving oneself → obs.
1552 — ABEARANCE behaviour, conduct
1552 — HABERANCE behaviour, conduct, abearance → obs.
1555 — FASHIONS behaviour, manners → obs. exc. Sc.
1559 — FACTION manner of behaving; an action, proceeding, course of conduct → obs.
1568 — GOOD ABEARANCE good behaviour
1596 — PUNCTILIO a minute detail of action or conduct; a nicety of behaviour, ceremony, or honour; a small or petty formality
1610 — PUNCTILLE a minute detail of action or conduct; a nicety of behaviour, ceremony, or honour; a small or petty formality → obs.
1615 — BEHAVE behaviour → obs.
1625 — PUNKETTO a minute point or nicety of behaviour → obs.
1660 — ONGOING behaviour, conduct; an event, affair, proceeding; generally in plural → Sc. & Eng. dial.
1725 — LAITS behaviour, manners, demeanour, habits, customs; bad habits → Sc.
1832 — GYPERY foolish or silly behaviour; nonsense → Sc. & Ireland
1835 — WAGS behaviour, tricks → Sc.
1841 — THING a person’s preferred mode of behaviour
1859 — CARRYINGS-ON conspicuous behaviour → UK sl.
1866 — VAND manner of behaving, attitude → Sc.
1880 — ATFARES behaviour → Sc.
1890 — GAG behaviour, a manner of doing something, a practice → US sl.
1898 — ON-GANGINGS behaviour, conduct; proceedings → Sc.
1899 — HAVANCE behaviour, good manners → Amer. dial.
..20C — BAD SIDDOWN poor behaviour in public; disregard of other people’s feelings → W. Indies & Jamaican sl.
1900 — FARE behaviour, conduct → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
1905 — ILL-HYVER awkward behaviour → Sc. (Bk.)
1905 — ON-GANG behaviour, conduct; proceedings → Sc. (Bk.)
1913 — JAG a bout of irrational or compulsive behaviour; a period of indulgence in a particular type of behaviour → Amer. dial.
1914 — ATTIFER behaviour, demeanour, manners → Sc.
1928 — BEHAVISHNESS bad behaviour → Amer. dial.
1930 — WHAT MAKES ONE TICK the motives, personal characteristics, etc. that determine someone’s behaviour
1950 — HANG-UP a fixed pattern of behaviour → Amer. sl.
1962 — BAG pattern of behaviour; a person’s style or customary way of doing things → Amer. sl.
NOUNS, PERSON
1640 — GARBIST a person who is skilled in polite behaviour; an expert in good manners → obs.
..E19 — OUT-AND-OUTER — OUTER a person who is seen as reaching extremes of behaviour, both good and bad, and defined according to context →
1838 — NARK an irritating person, a spoilsport, a badly behaved person → sl., chiefly Aust. & NZ sl.
1887 — HANDFUL a badly behaved person; a person who is strong-willed and difficult to control or deal with
1904 — LADY HALEY a well-behaved, obliging little girl → Amer. dial.
1914 — GENTLEMAN PASSENGER a well behaved, obliging boy → Amer. dial. (Bk.)
1951 — OPERATOR a person who behaves in a particular way; often with an implication of underhandedness or unscrupulousness → sl.
1955 — SUPERBRAT an exceptionally obnoxious or badly behaved child or young adult
1997 — GAUNCH a person who behaves badly; a fool; a boor → Ulster sl.
PHRASES
1822 — ON ONE’S PERJINKS one one’s best behaviour, careful of details → obs.
VERBS
1000 — LET to behave, to comport oneself; to have a particular behaviour or appearance; to make as though, to pretend → obs.
1200 — LEAD to behave, to act; to conduct oneself → obs.
1300 — FARE to behave or conduct oneself, to act → obs.
1362 — KEEP to behave; to conduct or comport oneself → obs.
..16C — SAIL ON ANOTHER BOARD to alter one’s behaviour → sl.
1535 — ORDER to behave; to conduct oneself → arch.
..E19 — KEEP THE LINE to behave properly → sl.
1845 — WALK THE CHALK to behave oneself; to conform rigorously to a prescribed standard; to obey implicitly → Amer. dial.
1851 — WALK THE CHALK LINE to behave oneself; to conform rigorously to a prescribed standard; to obey implicitly → Amer. dial.
1875 — GANG to behave, to act → Eng. dial.
1878 — PLAY PRETTY to play nice, to play in a pleasant, well-behaved way → Amer. dial.
1887 — KEEP ONE’S NOSE CLEAN to behave well or satisfactorily, often implying avoidance of involvement in criminal activity
1889 — CARRY CORN to behave appropriately when raises to an influential or lucrative position → Eng. dial.
1897 — SOW ONE’S WILD KAIL-SEED to engage in a period of wild or irresponsible behaviour while young → Sc.
..L19 — STRAIGHTEN UP AND FLY RIGHT to behave oneself; to mend one’s ways and live a sensible, respectable life → sl., orig. African-American
1905 — WALK THE CHALK MARK to behave oneself; to conform rigorously to a prescribed standard; to obey implicitly → Amer. dial.
1913 — ACT LIKE SANCHO to behave very badly → Amer. dial. (Bk.)
1918 — SIT UP LIKE JACKIE — SIT UP LIKE JACKY to behave properly; to sit up straight or with confidence → Aust. & NZ sl.
1938 — SHAPE UP to behave well or satisfactorily
1960 — DO ONE’S THING to behave as dictated by one’s personal beliefs, wishes, idiosyncrasies, etc. → sl., orig. African-American
1971 — CLEAN UP ONE’S ACT to begin behaving in a more proper or appropriate fashion; to change one’s ways for the better; to modify or improve one’s behaviour → Amer. sl.