Part 590

And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne, . . . a lamb as it had been slain. Rev. v. 6.

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.

But being so beholden to the Prince. Tennyson.

Be*hold"er (&?;), n. One who beholds; a spectator.

Be*hold"ing, a. Obliged; beholden. [Obs.]

I was much bound and beholding to the right reverend father. Robynson (More's Utopia).

So much hath Oxford been beholding to her nephews, or sister's children. Fuller.

Be*hold"ing, n. The act of seeing; sight; also, that which is beheld. Shak.

Be*hold"ing*ness, n., The state of being obliged or beholden. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.

Be*hoof" (&?;), n. [OE. to bihove for the use of, AS. beh&?;f advantage, a word implied in beh&?;flc necessary; akin to Sw. behof, Dan. behov, G. behuf, and E. heave, the root meaning to seize, hence the meanings "to hold, make use of." See Heave, v. t.] Advantage; profit; benefit; interest; use.

No mean recompense it brings To your behoof. Milton.

Be*hoov"a*ble (&?;), a. Supplying need; profitable; advantageous. [Obs.] Udall.

Be*hoove" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Behooved (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Behooving.] [OE. bihoven, behoven, AS. beh&?;fian to have need of, fr. beh&?;f. See Behoof.] To be necessary for; to be fit for; to be meet for, with respect to necessity, duty, or convenience; -- mostly used impersonally.

And thus it behooved Christ to suffer. Luke xxiv. 46.

Be*hoove" (&?;), v. i. To be necessary, fit, or suitable; to befit; to belong as due. Chaucer.

Be*hoove", n. Advantage; behoof. [Obs.]

It shall not be to his behoove. Gower.

Be*hoove"ful (&?;), a. Advantageous; useful; profitable. [Archaic] -- Be*hoove"ful*ly, adv. -- Be*hoove"ful*ness, n. [Archaic]

Be*hove" (&?;), v., and derivatives. See Behoove, &c.

Be*hove"ly, a. & adv. Useful, or usefully. [Obs.]

Be*howl" (&?;), v. t. To howl at. [Obs.]

The wolf behowls the moon. Shak.

||Beige (&?;), n. [F.] Debeige.

Beild (&?;), n. [Prob. from the same root as build, v. t.] A place of shelter; protection; refuge. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.] [Also written bield and beeld.]

The random beild o' clod or stane. Burns.

Be"ing (&?;), p. pr. from Be. Existing.

Being was formerly used where we now use having. "Being to go to a ball in a few days." Miss Edgeworth.

In modern usage, is, are, was or were being, with a past participle following (as built, made, etc.) indicates the process toward the completed result expressed by the participle. The form is or was building, in this passive signification, is idiomatic, and, if free from ambiguity, is commonly preferable to the modern is or was being built. The last form of speech is, however, sufficiently authorized by approved writers. The older expression was is, or was, a-building or in building.