Behavior
/bɪˈheɪvjər/noun
The way a person or animal acts or conducts themselves.
Did you know?Behavior comes from a verb meaning “to bear or carry oneself,” so the modern word once pointed to the way someone physically held themselves before it became a term for conduct and manners.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bher-
“to carry, bear, or bring”
Old English
OE
beran
“to carry, bear, or wear”
Middle English
English
behaven
“to conduct oneself, act properly”
15th Century
English
behaviour
“manner of conducting oneself; conduct”
Modern English
English
behavior
“manner of acting or conducting oneself”