beholden, ppl. a.
(bɪˈhəʊld(ə)n)
Also 4 bihalden, biholde, 5–6 behold(e, 5 byholden, -halden, behoulden, 9 (dial.) behauden, behadden, behodden.
[Originally pa. pple. of behold v.; but senses 1 and 2 are not actually found in other parts of the vb., though ‘hold or retain under obligation’ was a natural enough sense of be-hold. See also beholding ppl. a.]
1. Attached, or obliged (to a person); under personal obligation for favours or services.
| c 1340 Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 1547, I am hyȝly bihalden, & euer⁓more wylle Be seruaunt to your-seluen. Ibid. 1841, I am derely to yow biholde. 1414 Brampton Penit. Ps. li. 20 Manye, that were to me beholde. 1489 Caxton Faytes of A. iii. x. 188 The more beholden is the lorde unto hym. 1592 tr. Junius on Rev. xiii. 1 The beast is beholden for all unto the Dragon. 1656 Bramhall Replic. vii. 283, I am much beholden to him for easing me of the labour of replying. 1741 Richardson Pamela (1824) I. xxvii. 41 Besides I don't love to be beholden. 1816 Scott Old Mort. 49 ‘And wad keep ye in bread without being behadden to ony ane.’ 1873 F. Hall Mod. English 101 How deeply we are beholden to the happy daring of translators, for the amplitude and variety of our diction. |
† 2. Under moral obligation, in duty bound (to do something). Obs.
| a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 108 Eueriche fader and moder is be holde to praie for her children. c 1485 Digby Myst. (1882) iii. 1814 To worchep Iesu þey ar be-hold. 1502 Ord. Crysten Men i. vii. (1506) 82 He is bounde and beholde for to byleue that who so trespasseth..is in deedlye synne. |
† 3. Regarded, considered. Obs.
| a 1520 Myrr. Our Ladye 310 The thynge byholden ys to say, the beholdynge of the causes. |