Haviour

/ˈheɪvjər/ noun

Definition

An archaic or British spelling variant of 'behavior,' emphasizing the 'behaviour' pronunciation with a more pronounced vowel sound.

Etymology

This is an older English spelling preserving more of the French origin, where '-iour' endings were common (as in 'saviour'). The spelling reflects historical pronunciation and French spelling conventions.

Kelly Says

British English still uses 'behaviour' while American English switched to 'behavior'—it's a reminder that spelling reforms happened differently across the Atlantic, and the '-iour' spelling was actually the 'fancier' historical standard.

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