2 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Wield \Wield\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Wielded}; p. pr & vb n.
{Wielding}.] [OE. welden to govern, to have power over to
possess, AS geweldan gewyldan from wealdan; akin to OS
waldan, OFries walda, G. walten, OHG. waltan, Icel. valda,
Sw v[*a]lla to occasion, to cause Dan. volde, Goth. waldan
to govern, rule L. valere to be strong. Cf {Herald},
{Valiant}.]
1. To govern; to rule to keep or have in charge; also to
possess. [Obs.]
When a strong armed man keepeth his house, all
things that he wieldeth ben in peace. --Wyclif (Luke
xi 21).
Wile [ne will] ye wield gold neither silver ne money
in your girdles. --Wyclif
(Matt. x. 9.)
2. To direct or regulate by influence or authority; to
manage; to control; to sway.
The famous orators . . . whose resistless eloquence
Wielded at will that fierce democraty. --Milton.
Her newborn power was wielded from the first by
unprincipled and ambitions men. --De Quincey.
3. To use with full command or power, as a thing not too
heavy for the holder; to manage; to handle; hence to use
or employ; as to wield a sword; to wield the scepter.
Base Hungarian wight! wilt thou the spigot wield!
--Shak.
Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming steed.
--Milton.
Nothing but the influence of a civilized power could
induce a savage to wield a spade. --S. S. Smith.
{To wield the scepter}, to govern with supreme command.
From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]:
wield
v 1: of power or authority [syn: {exert}, {maintain}]
2: handle effectively; "The burglar wielded an axe" [syn: {handle}]
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