BEGUN, be-gun', _pa.p._ of BEGIN.
BEHALF, be-häf', _n._ favour or benefit: cause: sake, account: part--only
in phrases 'on,' 'in behalf of,' 'on his behalf.' [M. E. _behalve_--A.S.
_be healfe_, by the side. See HALF.]
BEHAPPEN, be-hap'n, _v.t._ (_Spens._) to happen to.
BEHAVE, be-h[=a]v', _v.t._ to bear or carry, to conduct (with
_self_).--_v.i._ to conduct one's self, also to conduct one's self well: to
act.--_n._ BEHAVIOUR (be-h[=a]v'yür), conduct: manners or deportment, esp.
good manners: general course of life: treatment of others.--TO BE UPON
ONE'S BEHAVIOUR, to be placed where one's best behaviour is politic or
necessary. [Formed, according to Dr Murray, in 15th century from _be-_ and
HAVE; apparently unconnected with A.S. _behabban_.]
BEHEAD, be-hed', _v.t._ to cut off the head.--_ns._ BEHEAD'AL (_rare_);
BEHEAD'ING, the act of cutting off the head.
BEHELD, be-held', _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ of BEHOLD.
BEHEMOTH, b[=e]'he-moth, _n._ an animal described in the book of Job,
usually taken to be the hippopotamus. [Either the pl. of Heb. _behêmâh_, a
beast, or a Hebraistic form of the Egyptian _p-ehe-mout_, 'water-ox.']
BEHEST, be-hest', _n._ command: charge. [A.S. _beh['æ]s_, a promise. See
HEST.]
BEHIGHT, be-h[=i]t', _v.t._ (_Spens._) to promise, to entrust, to speak to,
to command, to reckon or esteem to be:--_pr.p._ beh[=i]ght'ing; _pa.t._
beh[=o]te'; _pa.p._ beh[=i]ght.--_n._ (_obs._) a vow, a promise. [A.S.
_behátan_, _be-_, and _hátan_, to call.]
BEHIND, be-h[=i]nd', _prep._ at the back of (_place_, or as _support_):
remaining after or coming after (_time_, _rank_, _order_): inferior to, or
not so far advanced as.--_adv._ at the back, in the rear: backward:
past.--_adj._ or _adv._ BEHIND'HAND, being behind: tardy, or in arrears of
debt, &c.: clandestine. [A.S. _behindan_; Ger. _hinten_. See HIND.]
BEHOLD, be-h[=o]ld', _v.t._ to look upon: to contemplate.--_v.i._ to look:
to fix the attention:--_pa.t._ and _pa.p._ beheld'.--_imper._ or _interj._
see! lo! observe!--_adj._ BEHOLD'EN, bound in gratitude: obliged (with
_to_).--_n._ BEHOLD'ER, one who beholds: an onlooker.--_adj._ BEHOLD'ING
(_Shak._), beholden.--_n._ (_Shak._) sight, contemplation. [A.S.
_behealdan_, to hold, observe--pfx. _be-_, and _healdan_, to hold.]
BEHOOF, be-h[=oo]f', _n._ benefit: convenience (with _to_, _for_, _on_).
BEHOT, BEHOTE (_Spens._) _pa.t._ of BEHIGHT.
BEHOVE, BEHOOVE, be-h[=oo]v, _v.t._ to be fit, right, or necessary for--now
only used impersonally with _it_.--_adj._ BEHOVE'FUL, useful:
profitable.--_adv._ BEHOVE'FULLY (_obs._). [M. E. _behóf_, dat. behove;
A.S. _behófian_, to be fit, to stand in need of.]
BEHOWL, be-howl', _v.t._ (_Shak._) to howl at. Warburton first suggested
this as an emendation for 'behold' in _Midsummer Night's Dream_, V. 379.