behavior

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behavior

/bɪˈheɪ.vjə/ UK
/bɪˈheɪ.vjəɹ/ Canada, US
/bɪˈhæɪ.vjə/ Australia
/bəˈhæɪ.vjə/ New Zealand

Rhymes with -eɪvjə(ɹ)

Where it comes from

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *h₁ep-der.

Proto-Indo-European *h₁épsder.

Proto-Indo-European *h₁épider.

Proto-Indo-European *h₁pi

Proto-Germanic *bider.

Proto-Germanic *bi-

Proto-West Germanic *bi-

substratebor.?

Proto-Indo-European *kap-der.

Proto-Germanic *habjaną

Proto-West Germanic *habbjan

Proto-West Germanic *bihabbjan

Old English behabban

Middle English behaven

Proto-Indo-European *gʰeh₁bʰ-

Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁ti

Proto-Indo-European *-yeti

Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁yeti

Proto-Indo-European *gʰh₁bʰéh₁yeti

Proto-Italic *haβēō

Latin habeō

Old French avoirbor.

Middle English havour

Middle English behavoure

English behavior

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.

noun behaviors · behaviour · behavoure · behavier · behavor · behavour

US, uncountable, 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.
US, countable, usually An inappropriate or forbidden action. When a patient has a behavior, document it in their records.
US, countable, uncountable, usually The way or manner a living creature behaves or acts generally.
US, informal, uncountable, usually A state of probation about one's conduct. He was on his best behavior when her family visited.
US, countable, uncountable, usually An observable response produced by an organism.
US, uncountable, usually The way a device or system operates.

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