ppl. a.; 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 favors or services.
c. 1340. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1547. I am hyȝly bihalden, & euermore 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. trans. 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.
