Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of 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.