behealdan

Behealdan is an Old English verb meaning to behold, observe, or regard with attention. It is formed with the prefix be- attached to the verb healdan, “to hold,” giving the sense of holding something in view or keeping it in sight.

Etymology: The verb is attested in Old English sources as behealdan and is part of a broader Germanic verb family. The base healdan is related to Old High German halten and Old Norse halda, all meaning “to hold.” The be- prefix is a common Germanic formative that, here, yields the sense of regard or viewing rather than physical holding alone.

Attestations and usage: In Old English, behealdan appeared in prose and poetry with meanings centered on looking at, observing, or considering something carefully. As the language evolved into Middle English, the semantic core shifted toward the modern verb behold; modern English retains behold (and its past tense beheld), while the explicit Old English form behealdan fell out of productive use.

Modern relevance: Today, behealdan remains primarily of interest to students of historical linguistics and philology. In contemporary usage, behold remains the standard verb for “to see or observe,” with beheld as its past tense. The study of behealdan illustrates the development of the be- prefix and the historical trajectory of the Old English verb system.