behold
/bɪˈhoʊld/
verb
Origin
Old English
behealdan — to observe, hold, guard
Overview
Meaning Now
- to see or observe, especially something remarkable or impressive
- to fix the eyes upon
Literal older meaning
to hold completely in view
Language path
Proto-Germanic → Old English → Middle English → English
Earliest form
behealdan
Earliest period
Old English
Journey
The word evolved from a sense of guarding or keeping ('holding') to the act of holding something with one's eyes. It gained liturgical and literary weight through its frequent use in the King James Bible, where it serves as a dramatic imperative for attention.
Evolution
- Old English (before 1100)
behealdan
“to observe, keep, or look at”
Composed of the prefix be- and verb healdan
- Middle English (1100-1500)
beholden
“to see, gaze upon, look at”
- Early Modern English
behold
“to look upon, often with wonder”
Became common in the King James Bible
Connections
Word parts
be-
prefix
thoroughly or causative
hold
root
to keep, guard, grasp
Related across languages
German
behalten
to keep or retain
Dutch
behouden
to preserve or keep
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.