behavior

• behaviour (UK)
• behavoure, behavier, behavor, behavour (all obsolete)

From Middle English behavoure, behaver, equivalent to behave +‎ -ior, apparently in simulation of havior, haviour, havour. Compare Scots havings (“behavior”), from have (“to behave”).

• (General American) IPA^(key): [bɪˈheɪvjɚ]
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): [bɪˈheɪvjə]

behavior (usually uncountable, plural behaviors) (American spelling)

1. (uncountable) Human conduct relative to social norms.
2. (uncountable) The way a living creature behaves or acts generally.
3. (uncountable, informal) A state of probation about one's conduct.

   He was on his best behavior when her family visited.

4. (countable) An instance of the way a living creature behaves.
5. (countable, uncountable, biology, psychology) Observable response produced by an organism.
6. (uncountable) The way a device or system operates.

• Adjectives often applied to "behavior": human, animal, physical, chemical, mechanical, electrical, organizational, corporate, social, collective, parental, interpersonal, sexual, criminal, appropriate, inappropriate, correct, incorrect, right, wrong, good, bad, acceptable, unacceptable, poor, ethical, unethical, moral, immoral, responsible, irresponsible, normal, odd, deviant, abnormal, violent, abusive, aggressive, offensive, defensive, rude, stupid, undesirable, verbal, nonverbal, learned, professional, unprofessional, adaptive, compulsive, questionable, assertive, disgusting, self-destructive.

• behavior in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• behavior in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

• "behavior" in Raymond Williams, Keywords (revised), 1983, Fontana Press, page 43.