behoove

behoove
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, grove, by those who know it only in books. [OED]

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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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] 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

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