Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Behold \Be*hold"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Beheld}(p. p. formerly
   {Beholden}, now used only as a p. a.); p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Beholding}.] [OE. bihalden, biholden, AS. behealdan to hold,
   have in sight; pref. be- + healdan to hold, keep; akin to G.
   behalten to hold, keep. See {Hold}.]
   To have in sight; to see clearly; to look at; to regard with
   the eyes.

         When he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. --Num.
                                                  xxi. 9.

         Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of
         the world.                               --John. i. 29.

   Syn: To scan; gaze; regard; descry; view; discern.

Behold \Be*hold"\, v. i.
   To direct the eyes to, or fix them upon, an object; to look;
   to see.

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

Source : WordNet®

behold
     v : see with attention; "behold Christ!" [syn: {lay eyes on}]
     [also: {beholden}, {beheld}]