Where does “behold” come from?
Behold derives from Middle English beholden, Old English behealdan, Proto-West Germanic bihaldan and haldan, Proto-Germanic haldaną, and Proto-Indo-European kel-, meaning to hold or keep.
behold (English): To see or look at, esp. appreciatively; to...
Definitions
- To see or look at, esp. appreciatively; to...
Ancestry of “behold”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | biholden | To watch or stare at; to visually monitor |
| 2 | Old English | behealdan | to hold, occupy, retain; to do, perform; to look... |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | bihaldan | to keep |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | haldan | to hold; to keep |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | haldaną | to hold, to keep |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | kel- | to hit; beat; to pierce, to stab; goblet |