comportment
/kəmˈpɔɹt.mənt/
comportment means the manner in which one behaves or conducts oneself. It carries an Arena rating of 1727, earned across 6 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, comportment ranks #59 of 13,220 for Words That Escaped Their Books, #115 of 13,220 for Most Malleable Words, #1,651 of 13,220 for Most Beautiful Words, #5,092 of 13,220 for Best Fossil-Poetry Words.
comportment is pronounced /kəmˈpɔɹt.mənt/.
Why “comportment” is a great word
The specific manner in which one carries and conducts oneself, with particular regard to bearing and dignity. From Late Middle French comportement, from the verb comporter, from Latin comportare, from com- ("together") + portare ("to carry, bear"), first recorded in English 1590–1600. Unlike "behavior," a neutral ledger of actions, or "demeanor," the impression of outward attitude, comportment is the conscious curation of the physical self, the studied grammar of presence. It is the straight spine in a receiving line, the measured tempo of a hand gesture, the precise angle of a teacup held steady—a silent language of discipline spoken against the entropy of the slouch.
Etymology
From Late Middle French comportement. By surface analysis, comport + -ment.
noun
- The manner in which one behaves or conducts oneself.
- Deportment, bearing.
Words closest in meaning
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