Beholden meaning
Owing something, such as gratitude, to another; indebted.
adjective
The definition of beholden is you owe someone, or are under some moral obligation to repay a favor or kindness.
When your in-laws give you the money to buy a house and keep bringing it up every time they ask if they can come over, this is an example of a time when you might feel beholden.
adjective
Obliged to feel grateful; owing thanks; indebted.
adjective
Origin of beholden
- Middle English biholden past participle of biholden to observe behold
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition