Wĭeld, v. t.
v. t. [imp. & p. p. WIELDED; p. pr. & vb. n. WIELDING.] [A-S. wealdan, waldan, to rule, gewyldan, geweldan, to subdue, take; D. welden, O. Sax. waldan, O. Fries. walda, Goth. waldan, gawaldan, O. H. Ger. waltan, gawaltan, N. H. Ger. walten, to command, Icel. valda, to effect, Sw. vålla, Dan. volde, to occasion, to cause.] 1. To use with full command or power, as a thing not too heavy for the holder; to manage; to handle; as, to wield a sword; to wield the scepter.
Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming steed. Milton.
Sense 2. To use or employ; to manage; to control.
Base Hungarian wight, wilt thou the spigot wield? Shak.
Nothing but the influence of a civilized power could induce a savage to wield a spade. A. S. Smith.
Her new-born power was wielded from the first by unprincipled and ambitious men. De Quincey.
To wield the scepter, to govern with supreme command.