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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread behoove #208457 12/24/2012 10:59 AM Joined: Dec 2012 Posts: 1 UK Peter Everett stranger Peter Everett stranger Joined: Dec 2012 Posts: 1 UK Thanks Anu. Until you prompted me to look it up, I'd always thought the English version of the word - 'behove' (rhyming with 'grove' and 'stove')- was 'correct' and the American version - 'behoove' - was a corruption. It turns out that 'behoove' is the historical form and 'behove' is a version derived from reading the word in books and mispronouncing it. Incidentally, can anyone think of another transitive verb that is only ever used with the subject 'it'? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: behoove Peter Everett #208459 12/24/2012 5:53 PM Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,974 Likes: 3 Land of the Flat Water LukeJavan8 Carpal Tunnel LukeJavan8 Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,974 Likes: 3 Land of the Flat Water Welcome Peter. Stick around, you'll get an informed answer. ----please, draw me a sheep---- Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: behoove Peter Everett #208463 12/24/2012 9:44 PM Joined: Dec 2012 Posts: 1 Oregon eht stranger eht stranger Joined: Dec 2012 Posts: 1 Oregon I would bet that 'behoove' is probably of Norse origin. The Swedish word for 'need' is 'behova' (with an umlaut over the 'o'), while there doesn't seem to be anything similar in German. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: behoove eht #208467 12/25/2012 12:29 AM Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,974 Likes: 3 Land of the Flat Water LukeJavan8 Carpal Tunnel LukeJavan8 Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,974 Likes: 3 Land of the Flat Water Welcome to you too eht! ----please, draw me a sheep---- Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: behoove eht #208478 12/25/2012 12:38 PM Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 Netherlands, the Hague BranShea Carpal Tunnel BranShea Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 Netherlands, the Hague Hi, but there ís in Dutch. The Dutch word for behoove is 'behoeven' but I think it's hard to tell whether it came to us from the North or from across the Channel. German bedürfen? True, this word seems way off. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: behoove eht #208490 12/26/2012 9:58 AM Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 Netherlands, the Hague BranShea Carpal Tunnel BranShea Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 Netherlands, the Hague Though I admit the chances are more for Old Norse, eht. In the 9th century Dorestad, an important trading centre in the midst of our country at the time was often raided by the Vikings. Some words must have stuck. While the English never set foot on our shores save to help end the second WW. With them trade wars took place at see. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorestad (link shrinker seems to have changed; does not work for me) Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: behoove Peter Everett #208491 12/26/2012 10:41 AM Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Faldage Carpal Tunnel Faldage Carpal Tunnel Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 OED dates its first citation for behoove in English at 890. This is, I think, a little early for it to be from Old Norse. Maybe gooofy or Nuncle Z could correct or confirm this. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. (have been... ------  Words from medicine  Beheading words  Meta-words  Words from classical mythology  Animal Safari  Words with unusual etymologies  Eponyms or words derived from p...  Loanwords from German  English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode Show Likes Link Copied to Clipboard View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary

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