Where does “behave” come from?

Behave comes from Middle English behaven, whose ultimate origin and meaning remain unknown.

behave (English): To conduct well, or in a given way; To act,...

Definitions

  1. To conduct well, or in a given way; To act,...

Ancestry of “behave”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishbehaven
2Old Englishbehabbanto surround or embrace something; to hold or...
3Proto-Germanic*bihabbjan

Words derived from “behave

Every word from Proto-Germanic *bihabbjanEvery word from Old English behabbanEvery word from Middle English behaven