WIELD • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Wield

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verb

Wield v. t. (past & past part. wielded; pres. part. wielding)

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." "Wile (ne will) ye wield gold neither silver ne money in your girdles."

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." "Her newborn power was wielded from the first by unprincipled and ambitions men."

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!" "Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming steed." "Nothing but the influence of a civilized power could induce a savage to wield a spade."

To wield the scepter, to govern with supreme command.

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Etymology of 'Wield'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Wield" Quotes from Famous Books

... placed at their head with unlimited power, such as is credited to the intelligence which does not exist. A man of intellect and humanity could cause everything to happen in an infinitely superior manner. Could one like the divine Julius—humane, generous, broadest of view, deep thinking—wield such power, certainly every human ...

— The Story of My Heart • Richard Jefferies

... shalt be mistress of many worshipful men, that were subject to my lady Helca, and of many beautiful maidens, the kin of kings, that she ruled over. My master bade me say that, if thou wilt wear the crown with him, he will give thee all the high power that Helca had. Mightily shalt thou wield it ...

— The Fall of the Niebelungs • Unknown

... and devilish glad that it's over," cried Jerry, coming forward from the taffrail with a cutlass in hand, which although he could wield, he could certainly not have ...

— The King's Own • Captain Frederick Marryat

... and the life seemingly dreary, to those who cower by ingle-nooks or stand over registers. But there is stirring excitement in this bloodless war, and around plenteous camp-fires vigor of merriment and hearty comradry. Men who wield axes and breathe hard have lungs. Blood arated by the air that sings through the pine-woods tingles in every fibre. Tingling blood makes life joyous. Joy can hardly look without a smile or speak without a laugh. And merry is the evergreen-wood ...

— The Atlantic Monthly, Vol. 10, No. 58, August, 1862 • Various

... storm-cloud of calamity was rising from this quarter or that long before any suspicion of it had dawned on the citizens themselves. Jehovah turns the hearts of kings and peoples as the rivers of water, and He stirred up these hostile nations when His people were in need of chastisement; He could wield their power as the axe which assails a tree is wielded by the woodman; He could call the mightiest conqueror to serve His secret purposes, as a man calls a dog to his foot.[17] They did not know that ...

— The Preacher and His Models - The Yale Lectures on Preaching 1891 • James Stalker

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