- beholden
- be|hold|en [ bı`houldn ] adjective FORMALbeholden to feeling an obligation to do something for someone who has helped you in the past
Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.
beholden
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beholden to — formal : owing a favor or gift to (someone) : having obligations to (someone) politicians who are beholden to special interest groups She works for herself, and so is beholden to no one. • • • Main Entry: ↑beholden … Useful english dictionary
Beholden — Be*hold en, 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] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
beholden — beholden; un·beholden; … English syllables
beholden — ► ADJECTIVE (usu. beholden to) ▪ owing a debt; indebted … English terms dictionary
beholden — index accountable (responsible), bound, indebted, loyal Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
beholden — under obligation, mid 14c., originally pp. of BEHOLD (Cf. behold) (and preserving the original pp. of HOLD (Cf. hold)), but a sense directly related to this usage is not recorded among the many and varied meanings attested for behold … Etymology dictionary
beholden — [adj] indebted bound, grateful, in hock, into, obligated, obliged, on a string*, on the arm*, on the cuff*, on the tab*, owe one, owing, responsible, under obligation; concept 403 Ant. ingrateful … New thesaurus
beholden — [bi hōld′ən] vt. [ME, pp. of BEHOLD] archaic pp. of BEHOLD adj. obliged to feel grateful; owing thanks; indebted … English World dictionary
beholden — adj. (cannot stand alone) beholden for; to (we are beholden to nobody for anything) * * * [bɪ həʊldn] to (we are beholden to nobody for anything) (cannot stand alone) beholden for … Combinatory dictionary
beholden — [[t]bɪho͟ʊld(ə)n[/t]] ADJ: v link ADJ to n If you are beholden to someone, you are in debt to them in some way or you feel that you have a duty to them because they have helped you. He was made beholden to the Mafia... Americans are beholden to… … English dictionary
beholden — adjective Etymology: Middle English, from past participle of beholden Date: 14th century being under obligation for a favor or gift ; indebted < I m beholden to you > … New Collegiate Dictionary
