Behalves

/bɪˈhævz/ verb

Definition

Third person singular of 'behalve,' an archaic verb meaning it is a proper duty or necessity for someone; it behooves.

Etymology

Archaic variant or cognate of 'behoove' (from Old English behōfian, be- + hōfian 'to need'). Related to the modern 'behoove' which still appears in formal English.

Kelly Says

Behoove is still alive in legal and formal writing ('it behooves you'), but behalves is a dead variant—language naturally selects winners, and behoove won out probably just because it sounded better to speakers' ears over centuries.

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