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Behaviour vs Coxcombry - What's the difference?

behaviour | coxcombry |

As nouns the difference between behaviour and coxcombry

is that behaviour is the way a living creature behaves or acts while coxcombry is (countable) a behaviour or manner that is characteristic of a coxcomb; a foppish behaviour.

behaviour

English

Alternative forms

* (US) * (obsolete)

Noun

(en noun)
  • The way a living creature behaves or acts.
    • She can't stop the strange behaviour because she has OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder).
  • * 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.
  • The way a device or system operates.

    • Usage notes

    * Adjectives often applied to "behaviour" include: 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.

    Related terms

    * behave * behaved * behavioural * behaviouralism * behaviouralist * behaviourism * behaviourist * behaviouristic * behaviour pattern * behavioural science

    Derived terms

    * human behaviour

    coxcombry

    English

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • (countable) A behaviour or manner that is characteristic of a coxcomb; a foppish behaviour.
  • * 1865 , , Chapter IX,
    • He was clean shaved; clean shaving is a favorite coxcombry of the deacon class.
  • (uncountable) Behaviour or airs characteristic of a coxcomb; foppishness.
  • * 1824 , , Canto the Fifteenth, XII,
    • His manner was perhaps the more seductive, / Because he ne'er seem'd anxious to seduce; / Nothing affected, studied, or constructive / Of coxcombry or conquest: no abuse / Of his attractions marr'd the fair perspective, / To indicate a Cupidon broke loose, / And seem to say, "Resist us if you can" -- / Which makes a dandy while it spoils a man.
  • * 1855 , , Chapter XI,
    • He paused, grimly regarding it, while a dash of pleased coxcombry seemed to mingle with the otherwise savage satisfaction expressed in his face.
  • * 1871 , , Part 13, Chapter 3,
    • A man emasculated by coxcombry may spend more time upon the arrangement of his clothes than any woman, but even then there is no fetichism in his idea of them--they are still only a covering he uses for a time.