See Also: wield(1)(dictionary)
wield(2)(dictionary)
wield(dictionary)

wield(2) (iou)



wield verb. .
[Old English wealdan (strong) verb = Old Saxon waldan, Old High German waltan (German walten), Old Norse valda, Gothic waldan, partly Old English wieldan (weak) verb, from a mutated form of this.]
a. verb trans. Rule, govern. OE.
b. verb trans. Overcome, subdue. OE-ME.
c. verb intrans. Rule, have the command; fig. prevail. obsolete exc. Scot. LME.
verb trans.
a. Have at one's command or disposal; hold, possess, enjoy. Also, get possession of, obtain. OE-L18.
b. Experience, suffer; suffer patiently, endure, tolerate. ME-L16.
a. verb trans. Decide, ordain; bring about; carry out, perform. OE-E16.
b. verb intrans. Occupy oneself; act, do, fare (well etc.). LME-E17.
verb trans. Direct the movement or action of, control, (a bodily member, a faculty, etc.); guide, direct; deal with successfully, manage. obsolete exc. Scot. & dial. OE.
P. Fletcher Her daughters..Much pain'd themselves her stumbling feet to weeld. E. Young Whose mind was..strong to weild all science.
b. Carry (something heavy or requiring effort). ME-L16.
c. Express, utter. rare. L16-M17.
verb trans. Use or handle with skill and effectiveness; ply (a weapon or tool, now always one held in the hand). OE.
F. Forsyth A group of soldiers,..wielding rifles by the barrels, had burst into the hotel. M. Warner Wielding her dressmaker's shears she began slicing into the cloth. fig.: A. Menzies Who could wield such scathing invective?
b. Exercise (power, influence). Freq. fig. in wield a sceptre, wield the sceptre, exercise supreme authority, rule. L16.
H. T. Buckle Over the inferior order of minds, they still wield great influence. J. Fane A time in which women wielded their power behind the scenes.
wieldable adjective (rare) M18.
wielder noun (a) a ruler, a governor; (b) a person who wields a weapon, implement, etc.: LME.
wieldless adjective unmanageable, unwieldy M-L16.