Misbehave
Verb
Etymology: it is analysable into mis-, prefix with the meaning “amiss, badly, wrongly”, and behave. Behave it is analysable into be-, intensive prefix, and have.
Preterite tense: misbehaved
Preterite participle: misbehaved
Present participle: misbehaving
Reflexively:
Definition: to behave ill; to conduct oneself in a reprehensible manner
She was aware that she had misbehaved herself in insulting him.
Anthony Trollope (Cousin Henry)
Intransitiively:
Definition: to behave ill; to conduct oneself in a reprehensible manner
It may be approximately translated by comportarse mal, in Spanish; se conduire mal, in French; comportarsi male, in Italian.
The boys did not miss the smallest feats of any performance, and they enjoyed them every one, not equally, but fully. They had their preferences, of course, as I have hinted; and one of the most popular acts was that where a horse has been trained to misbehave, so that nobody can mount him.
William Howells (Boy Life)
If my sister, returned she, should ever misbehave to her benefactor, I will deny my relation to her.
Samuel Richardson (The Novels…)
The dog Toby, a small grizzled cur with a white face, misbehaved on this occasion, attacking Pick, Julius's cat, who had followed his master into the room.
Edward Hamley (Lady Lee’s Widowhood)
Derived from misbehave: misbehaviour, misbehaving, misbehaved
Derived from have: behaviour, behaved, behaving, behavioural, behaviourally, having
