behave

behave
    v 1: 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"
         [syn: {act}, {behave}, {do}]
    2: behave in a certain manner; "She carried herself well"; "he
       bore himself with dignity"; "They conducted themselves well
       during these difficult times" [syn: {behave}, {acquit},
       {bear}, {deport}, {conduct}, {comport}, {carry}]
    3: behave well or properly; "The children must learn to behave"
       [syn: {behave}, {comport}] [ant: {misbehave}, {misconduct},
       {misdemean}]
    

Behave \Be*have"\, v. i.
   To act; to conduct; to bear or carry one's self; as, to
   behave well or ill.
   [1913 Webster]

   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.
         [1913 Webster]
    

Behave \Be*have"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Behaved}; p. pr. & vb.
   n. {Behaving}.] [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.]
      [1913 Webster]

            He did behave his anger ere 't was spent. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To carry; to conduct; to comport; to manage; to bear; --
      used reflexively.
      [1913 Webster]

            Those that behaved themselves manfully. --2 Macc.
                                                  ii. 21.
      [1913 Webster]
    

44 Moby Thesaurus words for "behave":
      acquit, act, act toward, act well, be good, be nice, bear,
      behave toward, carry, comport, conduct, control, cope with,
      deal by, deal with, demean, deport, direct, disport, do, do by,
      do right, function, go on, handle, make, make as if, manage,
      misbehave, move, operate, perform, play, play the game, practice,
      proceed, quit, react, respond to, serve, take, treat, use, work