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. vålla to occasion, to cause, Dan. volde, Goth. waldan to govern, rule, L. valere to be strong. Cf. Herald, Valiant. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To govern; to rule; to keep, or have in charge; also, to possess. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

When a strong armed man keepeth his house, all things that he wieldeth ben in peace. Wyclif (Luke xi. 21). [ 1913 Webster ]

Wile [ ne will ] ye wield gold neither silver ne money in your girdles. Wyclif (Matt. x. 9.) [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To direct or regulate by influence or authority; to manage; to control; to sway. [ 1913 Webster ]

The famous orators . . . whose resistless eloquence
Wielded at will that fierce democraty. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Her newborn power was wielded from the first by unprincipled and ambitions men. De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Base Hungarian wight! wilt thou the spigot wield! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming steed. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nothing but the influence of a civilized power could induce a savage to wield a spade. S. S. Smith. [ 1913 Webster ]

To wield the scepter, to govern with supreme command. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being wielded. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act or power of wielding. [ Obs. ] “Our weak wieldance.” Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who wields or employs; a manager; a controller. [ 1913 Webster ]

A wielder of the great arm of the war. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Power; authority; rule. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

To have them in your might and in your wielding. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Not to be wielded; unmanageable; unwieldy. [ R. ] “Wieldless might.” Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Admitting of being easily wielded or managed. [ Obs. ] Golding. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being wielded; manageable; wieldable; -- opposed to unwieldy. [ R. ] Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]