behoove

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 personal profit or advantage: It would behoove you to be nicer to those who could help you.
v.i.
3. Archaic. to be needful, proper, or due: Perseverance is a quality that behooves in a scholar.
[bef. 900; ME behoven, OE behofian to need (behof BEHOOF + -ian inf. suffix)]
Syn. 2. benefit, advantage, serve, better, advance; suit, befit, beseem.

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Universalium. 2010.

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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 — index pertain Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • 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 —  (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

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