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Meaning of behold
The primary meaning of the word "behold" is to see or notice something, often with a sense of surprise or attention.
Etymology of behold
The word "behold" has its roots in Old English, where it was written as "beholdan" or "bihaldan", which is a combination of "be" (meaning "to" or "toward") and "holdan" (meaning "to hold" or "to keep").
In Middle English, the word evolved into "beholden", and eventually simplified to its modern form "behold".
Historically, "behold" was used to express a sense of obligation or duty, but its modern usage is more focused on visual perception or attention.
Synonyms
Definitions
- Oxford Languages defines "behold" as a verb that means to see or look at something, especially when it is surprising or impressive.
- It can also be used to draw attention to something, similar to "look" or "see".
- In a more formal or literary sense, "behold" can be used to introduce something that is being presented or shown.
Usage Examples
- The tourists stood at the edge of the Grand Canyon and beheld the breathtaking view.
- As I walked into the room, I beheld a beautiful painting on the wall.
- The crowd beheld the fireworks display in awe and wonder.