Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BE-HOLD', v.t. [pret. and pp. beheld. Sax. behealdan, beheoldan, gehealdan, gehaldan, from healdan, to hold. The sense is, to hold, to have in sight, from straining, restraining. In Saxon, the verb signifies not only to look or see, but to guard; so in Latin, observo, from servo, to keep. This explication leads us to an understanding of the participle beholden, which retains the primitive sense of the verb, bound, obliged. The Germans retain the original sense in behalten, to hold or keep; as the Dutch do in gehouden, held, bound; and the Danes in beholder, to keep, retain; behold, a retreat, refuge, reservation. See Observe and Regard.]

1. To fix the eyes upon; to see with attention; to observe with care. Behold the lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. – John i.
2. In a less intensive sense, to look upon; to see. When he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. – Num. xxi.