Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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

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.

Beholding \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.

Source : WordNet®

beholding
     n : perception by means of the eyes [syn: {visual perception}, {seeing}]