BEHOOVE

[Dr. Goodword]

• behoove •

Pronunciation: bee-huv • Hear it!

Part of Speech: Verb, transitive

Meaning: No, this isn't what the blacksmith does. In fact, this word has two meanings completely unrelated to trotters. 1. To be appropriate for, to oblige, to morally require. 2. To benefit, to be beneficial.

Notes: Today's Good Word is used mostly in a crystallized phrase, "It behooves X to . . . ." In this respect, it resembles a near synonym, incumbent, which is used almost exclusively in the phrase "It is incumbent upon X to . . . ." So, if we are behooved to improve our speech as much as possible, it is incumbent upon us to do so, as well. Anything behooveful is beneficial, as honesty is behooveful in most cases. In parts of Britain, you have the option of ignoring one of the Os and say behove.

In Play: Anything that dissuades us from activity produces languor: "Buck Shott's natural repugnance to physical labor was well suited for the languor that settled in over his Alabama farm in summer." Otherwise, this Good Word implies wistfulness and just the hint of regret: "William Arami has been foundering in a deep languor ever since Mary Dagai refused his proposal of matrimony." The languor of a cool, windless summer evening is familiar to all of us who live in the country.

Word History: Today's word is an English original from Old English behofian from a Germanic compound bi-hof "obligation." The original root meant "grasp, seize", similar to the ligature (binding) implied in the word obligation. In the Germanic languages it went on to indicate possession in such words as have. In Latin it appears in capere "to seize". This verb's past participle, captus, underlies English capture and captive. In Old French this verb became cachier "to chase", a verb English reworked into catch. (It now behooves us all to thank Loren Baldwin for suggesting today's rather unusual Good Word.)

[gailr]

Behooveful?

[skinem]

Behooveful?

...when I have to clean out my horses' hooves...
I think that's behoovious...

[Perry]

Past tense: I found myself behoven?

[Bailey]

"It would behoove you to have a bit of decorum, you ruffian."She said archily.

mark cloven-hooven Bailey

I've never heard any but the prissiest people use this word, correctly, perhaps it's a prissy word?

[gailr]

My dad behooved us regularly as part of household chore assignment. He was not prissy. I associate this word with the fear of god.

-gailr

still taken aback by behooveful

[sluggo]

Past participle of behave? or beehive?

Behooveful?

...flattery will get you everywhere

[gailr]

Past participle of behave? or beehive?

To behave or behavenot; that is the question.

For the materialistic, the goal is to behave and behold.

[sluggo]

For the materialistic, the goal is to behave and behold.

Aye, 'til dearth do them part.

[Bailey]

ah! dearth it was, indeed.

mark talkin'-turkey Bailey

[sluggo]

Behooveful?

wait wait I gottit I gottit...

Mayhaps the Doctor hath misbehooved?

Behoovioulous?
Behoovular?
Behoovementarian(istic)?

[gailr]

Mayhaps the Doctor hath misbehooved?

Ain't Misbehoovin'

[Stargzer]

• behoove •

Pronunciation: bee-huv • Hear it!

Part of Speech: Verb, transitive

Meaning: No, this isn't what the blacksmith does. ...

Would that be "behoof?"

"Do farriers work with shoddy merchandise?"

[sluggo]

It seems to me it would be the horse that's behooved.
(behooven?) (we be hoovin'!?)

[Perry]

It seems to me it would be the horse that's behooved.
(behooven?) (we be hoovin'!?)

Roll over behoven!