Comportment

/kəmˈpɔrtmənt/ noun

Definition

A person's behavior or manner of conducting themselves, especially regarding dignity and propriety.

Etymology

From French comportement, built on Latin comportare (com- meaning 'together' + portare 'to carry') plus the suffix -ment indicating result or manner. The word entered English in the 17th century, extending the verb 'comport' into a noun describing the manner in which one carries oneself together as a unified, dignified whole.

Kelly Says

Think of 'comportment' as the noun cousin of 'comport' — both about carrying yourself together! Just as 'movement' describes how you move and 'arrangement' describes how things are arranged, comportment describes how you carry your behavior. It's your personal style of self-transport!

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