wield Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb have and exercise
    maintain; exert.
    • wield power and authority
  2. verb handle effectively
    handle; manage.
    • The burglar wielded an axe
    • The young violinist didn't manage her bow very well

WordNet

Wield transitive verb
Etymology
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. vålla to occasion, to cause, Dan. volde, Goth. waldan to govern, rule, L. valere to be strong. Cf. Herald, Valiant.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Wielded; present participle & verbal noun Wielding
Definitions
  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.

Webster 1913