Word of the Day

Thursday February 18, 2010

comport [kum-PORT]

transitive verb

Behave well or properly.
Behave in a certain manner.

Some have suggested that the distinction in how the two cougar populations comport themselves around people stems from slight regional discrepancies in anatomy and leg length. Others have proposed that the Western puma is comparatively more accustomed to hunting large animals and thus sees Homo sapiens as acceptable pickings.

Natalie Angier, "A Love Affair With Panthers, For the Moment", New York Times, Jan 5, 2010
In this case, its brief said, "the SWAT team sergeant failed to comport himself as a reasonable officer would have, and he and the other plaintiffs embarrassed themselves through their lack of restraint in using a city-owned pager for personal and highly private communications. The city of Ontario should not have to pay for that."

Robert Barnes, "Supreme Court to rule on employees' texting privacy", Boston Globe, Dec 15, 2009
In such a state of fear and anxiety, how could Alexius comport himself with dignity and like an emperor?

Charles MacKay (1814 - 1889) A Scottish poet and journalist. Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions (1852)

Origin of the Word

Comport, approximately 1380, derives from Middle French comporter "endure, behave," from Latin comportare "to bring together," from com- "together" + portare "to carry."