[f. as prec. + -ING2. Sense 1 evidently originated in an error for BEHOLDEN, either through confusion of the endings (cf. esp. the 15th-c. spelling -yne for -en), or, more probably, after beholden was shortened to beholde, behold, and its grammatical character obscured; the general acceptance of ‘beholding’ may have been due to a notion that it meant ‘looking (e.g., with respect, or dependence),’ or to association with the idea of ‘holding of’ or ‘from’ a feudal superior. (It was exceedingly common in the 17th c., for which no fewer than 97 instances have been sent in by our readers.)]
† 1. Under obligation, obliged, indebted, BEHOLDEN; in late use often: Dependent. Obs.
[a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour, viii. 11. Doughter, ye are moche beholde to serue God.]
1483. Caxton, ibid., C viij b. Dame ye ben moche beholdynge to god.
1551–6. Robinson, trans. More’s Utop. (Arb.), 36. I was muche bounde and beholdynge to the righte reuerende father, Ihon Morton.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., I. i. 283. A Iustice of peace sometime may be beholding to his friend, for a Man.
1662. H. More, Antid. Ath., I. vi. (1712), 19. We have some Ideas that we are not beholding to our Senses for.
a. 1704. T. Brown, Eng. Sat., Wks. 1730, I. 25. Posterity has been very little beholding to the ancient Greeks for satire.
1719. D’Urfey, Pills (1872), I. 67. And he for their … bread, Beholding to his wife.
† 2. ? That holds fast the eyes; engaging, attractive. Obs. rare–1.
1580. Sidney, Arcadia (1598), I. 50. When he saw me … my beautie was no more beholding to him then my harmony.
3. Looking on, gazing.
1593. Shaks., Lucr., 1590. Which when her sad-beholding husband saw, Amazedly in her sad face he stares.
