beholden

[ bih-hohl-duhn ]

adjective

1. obligated; indebted:

   a man beholden to no one.

   Synonyms: liable, grateful, bound

beholden

/ bɪˈhəʊldən /

adjective

1. indebted; obliged; under a moral obligation

Other Words From

• unbe·holden adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of beholden¹

1300–50; Middle English, adj. use of beholden, old past participle of behold

Word History and Origins

Origin of beholden¹

Old English behealden , past participle of behealdan to behold

Example Sentences

Accusing his opponents of being locked in a Cold War mind-set, it is Stone who is beholden to old orthodoxies.

From The Daily Beast

Huckabee is also not burdened by, or beholden to, foreign investors.

From The Daily Beast

As a company that is beholden to stockholders, Kate Spade usually lags, not leads trends.

From The Daily Beast

Its members would not be beholden to any special interest groups, at all, for their selection.

From The Daily Beast

Beholden to a base that, like a capricious autocrat, will turn against them at the slightest provocation.

From The Daily Beast

We are not beholden to, thee for anything, for thy debt is paid to thee to the full; which methinks were very bold words.

From Project Gutenberg

Maybe that was why—though he may not have admitted it to himself—he could not bear to be beholden to her when his ruin came.

From Project Gutenberg

These confederates of his had one thing in common, however; all of them were beholden to Raymond Latour.

From Project Gutenberg

Because,” said I, “it is not proper that I be beholden to you for meat and drink.

From Project Gutenberg

We and the Surgeons are more beholden to Women than all the Professions besides.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• grateful
• obligated
• obliged