comport
/kəm'pɔ:t/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb (transitive):
- To conduct or behave (oneself) in a particular manner: To carry or present oneself, especially with a specified quality or in a specified way. It implies a conscious bearing or demeanor.
- To be in agreement or accord; to suit or fit: To be compatible or consistent with something else. (This sense is less common and often used with "with").
Verb (intransitive):
- To behave or conduct oneself: To act in a specified way. This usage is synonymous with "behave" but is more formal.
Usage and Examples
Verb (transitive, with a reflexive pronoun):
- She comported herself with great dignity during the ceremony.
- He comported himself as a true professional in the crisis.
- The soldiers comported themselves bravely under fire.
Verb (intransitive, often followed by "with"):
- His actions did not comport with his words. (Meaning: His actions were not consistent with his words.)
- Such lavish spending does not comport with our company's values.
Advanced Usage
"to comport oneself": This is the most frequent construction. It is a formal way to describe how someone carries or presents themselves in terms of behavior, dignity, or propriety.
- The ambassador must comport herself in a manner befitting her office.
"comport with": Used to indicate harmony, agreement, or consistency between two things, such as actions and principles, or evidence and a theory.
- The witness's testimony did not comport with the known facts of the case.
Variants and Related Words
- Comportment (noun): Manner of conducting oneself; bearing or deportment.
- His calm comportment was noted by all the interviewers.
Synonyms
- Behave: To act in a particular way.
- Conduct (oneself): To behave in a specified manner.
- Deport (oneself): (Formal) To behave in a particular way.
- Acquit (oneself): (Formal) To conduct oneself or perform in a specified way.
- Bear (oneself): To carry or conduct oneself in a specified manner.
Antonyms
- Misbehave: To behave badly.
- Misdemean (oneself): (Archaic) To behave improperly.
Notes on Usage
- Comport is a formal word, more common in written English, legal contexts, or formal descriptions of behavior than in everyday conversation.
- It often carries a connotation of dignity, propriety, or appropriateness.
- The intransitive use with "with" to mean "agree" or "be consistent" is primarily found in formal or academic writing.
Verb
- behave in a certain manner
- She carried herself well
- he bore himself with dignity
- They conducted themselves well during these difficult times
- behave well or properly
- The children must learn to behave