behoove
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Behoove — Be*hoove , n. Advantage; behoof. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] It shall not be to his behoove. Gower. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Behoove — Be*hoove , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Behooved}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Behooving}.] [OE. bihoven, behoven, AS. beh?fian to have need of, fr. beh?f. See {Behoof}.] To be necessary for; to be fit for; to be meet for, with respect to necessity, duty, or… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Behoove — Be*hoove , v. i. To be necessary, fit, or suitable; to befit; to belong as due. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
behoove — (v.) O.E. behofian to have need of, have use for, verbal form of the ancient compound word represented by BEHOOF (Cf. behoof). Historically, it rimes with move, prove, but being now mainly a literary word, it is generally made to rime with rove,… … Etymology dictionary
behoove — [v] be necessary, proper be expected, befit, be fitting, be incumbent upon, be needful, be one’s obligation, be required, be requisite, be right, beseem, owe it to, suit; concept 646 … New thesaurus
behoove — [bē ho͞ov′, biho͞ov′] vt. behooved, behooving [ME bihofian < OE behofian, to have need of < BEHOOF] to be necessary for or incumbent upon [it behooves you to think for yourself] vi. Now Rare to be morally necessary or proper … English World dictionary
behoove — /bi hoohv /, v., behooved, behooving. (chiefly in impersonal use) v.t. 1. to be necessary or proper for, as for moral or ethical considerations; be incumbent on: It behooves the court to weigh evidence impartially. 2. to be worthwhile to, as for… … Universalium
behoove — (British behove). An archaic word, but still sometimes a useful one. Two points need to be made: 1. The word means necessary or contingent, but is sometimes wrongly used for becomes, particularly with the adverb ill, as in It ill behooves any… … Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors
behoove — (British behove). An archaic word, but still sometimes a useful one. Two points need to be made: 1. The word means necessary or contingent but is sometimes wrongly used for becomes, particularly with the adverb ill, as in It ill behooves… … Dictionary of troublesome word
behoove — verb be appropriate or necessary (Freq. 1) It behooves us to reflect on this matter • Syn: ↑behove • Hypernyms: ↑meet, ↑fit, ↑conform to • Verb Frames … Useful english dictionary
