v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Beheld p. p. formerly Beholden now used only as a p. a.); p. pr. & vb. n. Beholding. ] [ OE. bihalden, biholden, AS. behealdan to hold, have in sight; pref. be- + healdan to hold, keep; akin to G. behalten to hold, keep. See Hold. ] To have in sight; to see clearly; to look at; to regard with the eyes. [ 1913 Webster ]

When he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. Num. xxi. 9. [ 1913 Webster ]

Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John. i. 29. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To scan; gaze; regard; descry; view; discern. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To direct the eyes to, or fix them upon, an object; to look; to see. [ 1913 Webster ]

And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne, . . . a lamb as it had been slain. Rev. v. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

p. a. [ Old p. p. of behold, used in the primitive sense of the simple verb hold. ] Obliged; bound in gratitude; indebted. [ 1913 Webster ]

But being so beholden to the Prince. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who beholds; a spectator. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Obliged; beholden. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

I was much bound and beholding to the right reverend father. Robynson (More's Utopia). [ 1913 Webster ]

So much hath Oxford been beholding to her nephews, or sister's children. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of seeing; sight; also, that which is beheld. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n., The state of being obliged or beholden. [ Obs. ] Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]