different between behavior vs libertinism

English

Alternative forms

• behaviour (British)
• behavoure, behavier, behavor, behavour (all obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English behavoure, behaver, equivalent to behave +? -ior, apparently in imitation of English havior, haviour, havour. Compare Scots havings (“behavior”), from have (“to behave”).

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /b??he?vj?/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /b??he?vj?/
• Rhymes: -e?vj?(?)
• Hyphenation: be?ha?vior

Noun

behavior (usually uncountable, plural behaviors) (American spelling)

1. (uncountable) Human conduct relative to social norms.
   • 2014, A teacher, "Choosing a primary school: a teacher's guide for parents", The Guardian, 23 September 2014:

     Teachers will probably be on their best behaviour for your visit – but don't be upset if they don't even notice you; they've got enough going on.

2. (uncountable) The way a living creature behaves or acts generally.
3. (uncountable, informal) A state of probation about one's conduct.

   He was on his best behavior when her family visited.

4. (countable) An instance of the way a living creature behaves.
5. (countable, uncountable, biology, psychology) Observable response produced by an organism.
6. (uncountable) The way a device or system operates.

Usage notes

• Adjectives often applied to "behavior": human, animal, physical, chemical, mechanical, electrical, organizational, corporate, social, collective, parental, interpersonal, sexual, criminal, appropriate, inappropriate, correct, incorrect, right, wrong, good, bad, acceptable, unacceptable, poor, ethical, unethical, moral, immoral, responsible, irresponsible, normal, odd, deviant, abnormal, violent, abusive, aggressive, offensive, defensive, rude, stupid, undesirable, verbal, nonverbal, learned, professional, unprofessional, adaptive, compulsive, questionable, assertive, disgusting, self-destructive.

Derived terms

Related terms

• behave

Translations

Further reading

• "behavior" in Raymond Williams, Keywords (revised), 1983, Fontana Press, page 43.
• behavior in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• behavior in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

English

Etymology

libertine +? -ism

Noun

libertinism (countable and uncountable, plural libertinisms)

1. A lifestyle or pattern of behavior characterized by self-indulgence and lack of restraint, especially one involving sexual promiscuity and rejection of religious or other moral authority.
   • 1852, William Makepeace Thackeray, The History of Henry Esmond, Esq., ch. 13,

     The lord made a boast of his libertinism, and frequently avowed that he held all women to be fair game.

   • 1855, Washington Irving, "The Grand Prior of Minorca: A Veritable Ghost Story," in Chronicles of Wolfert's Roost and Other Papers,

     They led a life of luxury and libertinism, and were to be found in the most voluptuous courts of Europe.

   • 1990, David Gross and Sophfronia Scott, "Proceeding With Caution," Time, 16 Jul.,

     Only on college campuses do remnants of libertinism linger. That worries public-health officials, who are witnessing an explosion of sexually transmitted diseases.

   • 1993, Peter N. Miller, "‘Freethinking’ and ‘Freedom of Thought’ in Eighteenth-Century Britain," The Historical Journal, vol. 36, no. 3, p. 601:

     To facilitate their counter-attack, the targets of this critique sought to reduce the plurality of libertinisms to a simple libertine personality.

Related terms

• libertinage

Translations

References

• "libertinism" at OneLook® Dictionary Search.

Romanian

Etymology

libertin +? -ism

Noun

libertinism n (uncountable)

1. libertinism

Declension