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Webster 1913 Edition

Behavior

Be-hav′ior

,
Noun.
Manner of behaving, whether good or bad; mode of conducting one’s self; conduct; deportment; carriage; – used also of inanimate objects;
as, the
behavior
of a ship in a storm; the
behavior
of the magnetic needle
.
A gentleman that is very singular in his
behavior
.
Steele.
To be upon one's good behavior
,
To be put upon one's good behavior
,
to be in a state of trial, in which something important depends on propriety of conduct.
–
During good behavior
,
while (or so long as) one conducts one's self with integrity and fidelity or with propriety.
Syn. – Bearing; demeanor; manner.
–
Behavior
,
Conduct
. Behavior is the mode in which we have or bear ourselves in the presence of others or toward them; conduct is the mode of our carrying ourselves forward in the concerns of life. Behavior respects our manner of acting in particular cases; conduct refers to the general tenor of our actions. We may say of soldiers, that their conduct had been praiseworthy during the whole campaign, and their behavior admirable in every instance when they met the enemy.

Webster 1828 Edition

Behavior

BEHA'VIOR

,
Noun.
behavyur. [See Behave.]
Manner of behaving, whether good or bad; conduct; manners; carriage of one's self, with respect to propriety, or morals; deportment. It expresses external appearance or action; sometimes in a particular character; more generally in the common duties of life; as, our future destiny depends on our behavior in this life. It may express correct or good manners, but I doubt whether it ever expresses the idea of elegance of manners,without another word to qualify it.
To be upon one's behavior, is to be in a state of trial, in which something important depends on propriety of conduct. The modern phrase is, to be or to be put, upon one's good behavior.

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