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