Wield v.

Forms: see below. [Two OE. verbs are here represented: (1) a Com. Teut. reduplicating strong verb, OE. (WS.) wealdan, (Anglian) waldan, pa. t. wéold, pa. pple. ʓe-wealden (see WALDIN) = OFris. walda, OS. gi-waldan, pa. t. giwêld, OHG. waltan, pa. t. wialt (MHG. walten, pa. t. wielt, G. walten wk.), ON. valda, pres. væld, pa. t. (wk.) olla, pa. pple. neut. valdet (Sw. vålla, Da. volde to cause, occasion), Goth. waldan; (2) a weak verb, OE. (WS.) *ʓe-wieldan, wildan, wyldan, (Anglian) wældan, containing a mutated form of the same stem walđ- (see also WIELD sb. and a.), = Balto-Slavic wald- (: weld-) in OSl. vlado to rule, vlastĭ power, Lith. veldu to rule, possess, iterative valdaũ, OPrussian weldīsnan acc., inheritance, wāldnikans acc. pl., kings; another grade is in Goth. wulþus glory.

  The above forms are generally held to contain an extended form of the root of L. valēre to be strong, validus strong, Celtic walo- in many proper namnes, and in *walatros (whence MWelsh gw[]ytladr chief), ON. pa. t. olla (:—*wul-þō).

  The current form wield descends from ME. wēlde(n (see A. 1 ε) as representing OE. (non-WS.) *weldan, variant of WS. wieldan, not as representing WS. wealdan, the Anglian form of which gave ME. wālde, wǭlde (A. 1 β, γ). The pa. t. and pa. pple. in -ed are new formations dating from the 14th century. (The OE. and early ME. contracted forms of the 2nd and 3rd pres. indic. sing. of OE. wealdan and wieldan (A. 1 η) are identical.)]

  A.  Illustration of Forms.

  1.  Infin. and Present Stem. α. 1 wealdan, 2–3 wealden.

c. 888.  Ælfred, Boeth., xxxix. § 8. Sume … secgað ꝥ sio wyrd wealde æʓþer ʓe ʓesælða ʓe unʓesælða.

c. 1000.  Beowulf, 2038. Þenden hie ðam wæpnum wealdan moston.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 79. On ȝiwer þoleburdnesse ȝe shulen wealden ȝiwer saule.

c. 1230.  Hali Meid., 577. Wið him þu schalt wealden,… heouenliche wunnen.

  β.  1 waldan, wældan, 3–4 walde(n (3 wælden), 4 Sc. valde, 4–5 Sc. wauld(e, 4–5 (9 Sc.) wald.

c. 825.  Vesp. Psalter, lxxxviii[i]. 10 (9). Ðu waldes maehte sæs.

c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., Mark x. 42. Wutas ʓie forðon ðas ðaðe ʓesene sint þæt hia aldordom [sic] hædnum ʓe-wældes ðæm.

a. 1000.  Boeth. Metr., xxiv. 35. Se ðe waldeð … ealra oðra eorðan cyninga.

c. 1205.  Lay., 1250. & scal þin mære kun wælden þus londes. Ibid., 2966. Hu mochel worȝ leste þu me to walden kineriche?

12[?].  Moral Ode, 2 (Egerton MS.). Ic wælde more þanne ic dude.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 9958. Þan was þar neuer suilk a hald, Ne nan welier in werld to wald.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, xl. (Ninian), 1178. To wauld ȝoure lymmys at ȝour wil.

c. 1425.  waulde [see B. 5].

a. 1500.  Bernard. de cura rei fam., I. 351. Quham god of mych bade wald and virke.

1825.  Jamieson, Wald, walde, to wield, to manage, to govern, to possess.

1915.  wald [see B. 1 b].

  γ.  3–5 wolde, 4 wold.

c. 1260.  K. Horn, 308 (Camb. MS.). Me to spuse holde, & ich þe lord to wolde.

c. 1425.  Cursor M., 22874 (Trin.). Miȝty god þat al woldeþ.

c. 1460.  Towneley Myst., xxvi. 1. Peasse, I warne you, woldys in wytt!

  δ.  1 wildan, wyldan, 4–5 wilde, wylde, 6–7 wild.

c. 960.  Æthelwold, Rule St. Benet (1885), 11. He sceal mid twyfealdre lare þa wyldan and tyn, þe him underþeodde synt.

13[?].  Cursor M., 6741 (Gött.). And na keping did him in wilde, Ox for ox þan sal he ȝelde.

1387.  wilde [see B. 3 a].

c. 1480.  wilde [see B. 2].

c. 1485.  wyldyng [see WIELDING ppl. a.].

1563, 1603.  wild [see B. 5].

  ε.  2–4 welden (5 -on), 3–4 weld(e, 4 Sc. velde; 4–8 weild, 5–6 weilde, 6 weyld, Sc. veild; 4–6 weelde, 5–7 weeld; 6–7 weald; 6 wielde, wyelde, 6– wield.

  c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 153. Þa awariede gastes þet weldeð þosternesse [rectores tenebrarum].

a. 1200.  Moral Ode, 2 (Lamb. MS.). Ich welde mare þene ich dede.

c. 1205.  Lay., 1140. Þe wrse hit hafde to welden.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 22813. Al mai he do he þat al weldes.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 369. Þes goodis þat þei welden now.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 1881. For to wirke with my wille, & weld as myn owne.

  a. 1300.  Cursor M., 586. Adam was mad of mans eild, Als he moght welle him self weild.

c. 1400.  Sc. Trojan War (Horstm.), II. 1625. Gevin … To king Teuteus, to kepe and weild.

1500–20.  Dunbar, Poems, xxi. 61. O! quha sall weild the wrang possessioun.

1579.  weyld [see B. 2 b].

1581.  W. Stafford, Exam. Compl., iii. (1876), 77. Hauinge much land in their hand, and not being able to weilde all.

1696.  Phillips (ed. 3). To weild, to manage, to govern: Thus we say to weild a Scepter.

1742.  weild [see B. 4].

  c. 1380.  Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 22. Þei ben endurid in her unskilful errour til eendelees deeþ weelde hem.

c. 1425.  weeld [see B. 5].

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., III. i. 276. Ȝe schulen not weelde eny thing in the lond of hem.

1603.  Drayton, Odes, i. 49. That sturdy Glebes, And massie Oakes could weeld.

1633.  weeld [see B. 4].

  1593.  Churchyard, Challenge, 22. Why doe wee wish, to weald a world at will?

1629.  weald [see B. 5].

  1559.  Mirr. Mag., Dk. Suffolk, ix. They were more then we might easely wyelde.

1586.  Marlowe, 1st Pt. Tamburl., II. i. What stature wields he, and what personage?

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., II. i. 18. Vnder him a gray steede did he wield.

  ζ.  (with short vowel) 6–7 weld(e, (7 welld).

1530.  welde [see B. 4].

c. 1550.  Disc. Common Weal Eng. (1893), 100. Havinge muche landes in theire handes, and not being able to welde all.

1591.  Spenser, Ruines of Time, 14. A broken rod she held, which towards heauen Shee seemd on high to weld.

1594.  Willobie, Avisa, XXV. iii. You see the sore, whence springs my griefe, You weld the sterne of my reliefe.

a. 1628.  F. Grevil, Mustapha, I. i. Strength knowes what strength can weld.

1647.  welld [see B 4 b].

  η.  2nd and 3rd sing. pres. contr. 1 weltst, wylst, wylt, wilt, 1–3 wealt, 1–4 welt, 3–5 walt.

c. 888.  weltst, welt [see B. 1, 4].

c. 897.  wilt [see B. 3 a].

c. 1000.  Ags. Ps. (Th.), ii. 9. Þu heora wylst.

c. 1000.  wealt [see B. 3 a].

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 181. We one awlencð alle þe hundlimen, and welt þe sowle.

c. 1205.  Lay., 32049. Ure drihten þe walt alle deden.

a. 1225.  Leg. Kath., 1798. He … wisseð & wealt—þe heouene & te eorðe.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 54. Hali froure welt oc ðat miȝt.

c. 1275.  Moral Ode, 83, in O. E. Misc., 61. He wit and wald [v.rr. waldeð, walt, wealdeð] alle þing.

13[?].  Guy Warw. (A.), 3892. Lord þat woneþ an heye, Þat al þing walt fer & neye.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. X. 83. Þe more he wynneth and welt welthes & ricchesse,… þe lasse good he deleth.

c. 1425.  Cursor M., 23105 (Trin.). Þe lord of myȝt þat al walt.

  2.  Pa. t. α. 1 weold, wieold, 3 wield, 3–5 weld(e.

Beowulf, 465. weold [see B. 1].

c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., I. 391. Maniʓra folca ʓestreones hie wieoldon.

c. 1100.  O. E. Chron. (MS. D), an. 1036. Þæt ne ʓeþafodon þa þe micel weoldon on þisan lande.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll Hom., 169. On alle þe winne þe he erur wield.

c. 1205.  Lay., 183. He wes king & heo quen & kinlond heo welden.

1432–50.  trans. Higden (Rolls), I. 7. Riches þat þey welde [Caxton welded] while þey were alyue.

  β.  1 wylde, 2 (ȝe)wellde, -welt, 3–4 welt(e, welde.

a. 1000.  Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 225/1. Domuit, i. uicit, mitigauit, wylde.

c. 1175.  E. E. (Vesp.) Hom., 106. Ic ȝewellde & ȝewann feola þeodan. Ibid., 107. Ne mid his scelde heo ne ȝewelt.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 532. Wimmen welten weres mester.

c. 1350.  welt [see B. 2].

  γ.  3 wald(e, wælde, 4–5 walt; 3–5 wolde, 4 wolt.

c. 1205.  Lay., 8976. Androgeus walde [later text welde] al þat he wolde. Ibid., 24134. Na lengere þat lond he ne walde [later text wolde].

a. 1250.  Prov. Ælfred, 389, in O. E. Misc., 126. Þeyh o mon wolde al þe worlde.

13[?].  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 231. He stemmed & con studie, Quo walt þer most renoun. Ibid., 485. Wyth wele walt þay þat day.

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 3887. Was neuer man vpon mold þat swiche miȝt walt.

a. 1425.  Cursor M., 10181 (Trin.). Þe secounde party þat he walt Was among þe prestes dalt.

  δ.  4–7 welded (4 -id), 5–6 Sc. weildit, 6 weelded, 7 weilded, 7– wielded.

1338.  weldid [see B. 5].

1382.  Wyclif, Isa. lxiii. 18. As noȝt thei weldeden thin hoeli puple.

c. 1475.  Rauf Coilȝear, 578. The wy that weildit the wane.

1601.  welded [see B. 5 d].

1838.  G. P. R. James, Louis XIV., III. iii. 89. Boileau too wielded his satirical pen.

  3.  Pa. pple. 1 ʓewealden, 3 iwealde, iwald, wold, 5 welde(n, weld; 1 wyld(d; 4 weldid, 7 (9 dial.) welded, 7– wielded.

Beowulf, 1732. [He] ʓedeð him … ʓewealdene worolde dælas.

c. 1000.  Ags. Ps. (Spelman), xviii. 14 [xix. 13]. Ʒif min hine beoþ wyldde.

c. 1200.  [see B. 3].

a. 1225.  Leg. Kath., 189. Al þe world is iwald þurh his wissunge.

c. 1250.  wold [see B. 1 c].

a. 1340.  Hampole, Psalter, xv. 7. Thurgh þe whilke þe heritage of heuen may be sene and weldid.

a. 1425.  Cursor M., 13821 (Trin.). Eiȝte & þritty ȝeer in bonde Haue I not welden foot ny honde.

c. 1470.  Harding, Chron. CCIX. iii. The which the duke of Bargoyn wold haue weld. Ibid., CCXXXII. iii. So was the lande w^t Frenchmen wonne & welde.

1688.  R. Holme, Armoury, III. vii. 321/2. The Hand Hammer … may be welded … with one hand.

1750.  Johnson, Rambler, No. 82, ¶ 10. A Scymitar once wielded by a Soldier.

1891.  welded [see B. 4].

  B.  Signification.

  † 1.  trans. To rule or reign over, govern, rule, command. Obs. exc. as merged in 5.

Beowulf, 465. Ic … weold folce Deniʓa.

c. 888.  Ælfred, Boeth., xxxiii. § 5. Dryhten … þu ðe ealle … ʓesceafta … ʓesceope &… heora weltst.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 153. To fihten … to-ȝeines þa awariede gastes þet weldeð þosternesse [rectores tenebrarum].

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 840. Ðe kinges welten burȝes ðoa.

1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 9891. God almyȝty, þat al þyng weldes.

a. 1400[?].  Morte Arth., 650. I make the kepare, sir knyghte, of kyngrykes manye…to weilde al my landes.

c. 1420.  Prose Life Alex., 37. So sall ȝe wele & peysably welde ȝour empire.

a. 1513.  Fabyan, Chron., I. cxcix. (1811), 206. Weldynge y^e countre at his wyll.

1575.  Gascoigne, Kenelworth, Wks. 1910, II. 115. Though she finde the skil A kingdome for to weelde.

1633.  Bp. Hall, Hard Texts, Neh. v. 14. I, and my familie have not taken that allowance which was appointed for the governour, so as, though I weilded the place, yet I forbore to take the maintenance allotted unto it.

  b.  intr. To rule, have the command; fig. to prevail. Obs. exc. Sc. dial.

a. 1450.  Ratis Raving, 2270. Vilfulnes and mysknawleg Ay wodly weildand.

a. 1500[?].  Chester Pl. (Shaks. Soc.), vi. 112. As was from the begininge, And never shall have endinge, From worlde to worlde aye weildinge, Amen! God of mighte moste.

1915.  G. Sinclair, Poems, 63. May … love an’ friendship freely wald Around her ingle.

  † c.  trans. To overcome, subdue. Obs.

a. 1000.  [see A. 2 β].

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 421. Abel an hundred ȝer was hold, Ðan he was of is broðer wold. Ibid., 526. Ðor is writen quat aȝte awold, Ðat ðis werld was [of ?] water wold.

  † 2.  To have at command or disposal, have as one’s own or in one’s keeping, hold, own, possess; to have the advantage of, enjoy; sometimes (contextually), to get possession of, gain, win, obtain.

Beowulf, 2051. Hi weoldon wælstowe.

a. 1000.  Guthlac, 239. Oft we oferseʓon … þeoda þeawas, þræce modiʓra, þara þe in ʓelimpe life weoldon.

11[?].  in Kemble, Cod. Dipl., IV. 200. And ic cyðe eow ðæt Ordric abbud and eal ðæt hired on Abbendunes mynstre be minre unne and ʓife friʓelice habban and wealdan Hornemeres hunred on hyre aʓenre and wealde.

c. 1220.  Bestiary, 176. If ðu hauest is broken, Al ðu forbreðes, forwurðes and forgelues, Eche lif to wolden.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 388. [Christ] wrot mid his owune blode saluz to his leofmon, of luue gretunge … forte welden hire luue.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 10328. Oft sith lates he be lett Man wit womman child to gett, Bituix and þair forþer eild, And þan þam sendes child to weild. Ibid., 24188. Moght i þe ans weld in arm, Hale me think of all mi harm.

13[?].  [see A. 2 γ].

13[?].  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 835. Ȝe ar welcum to welde as yow lykez Þat here is; al is yowre awen, to haue at yowre wylle.

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 76. Þai seide þe child schuld weld al here godis. Ibid., 144. He wex to a werwolf … ac his witt welt he after as wel as to-fore. Ibid., 2946. I not where he schal ȝou to wiue welde.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Monk’s T., 20. Adam … welte all Paradys sauynge o tree.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, V. vii. 172. Ye be worthy to welde all your honour and worship.

c. 1480.  Childe of Bristowe, 542, in Horstmann, Altengl. Leg. (1881), 321. Y haue no childe, Myn heritage for to wilde.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, VII. vi. 127. Lat nevir his feris weild Ane fut braid of Italiane ground nor feyld.

1586.  [see A. 1 ε].

1593.  Churchyard, Challenge, 116. What cunning heads and hands can catch in hold, That covetous mindes, doth seek to weld alone.

1603.  Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 510. They … would never be able with wisdom and moderation to weld any great prosperitie [τὰς εύπραγίας … φέρειν]

  † b.  To have in oneself, experience, feel; to have as one’s lot or fate, suffer, undergo; to suffer patiently, endure, tolerate. Obs.

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 2990. So gret wonder walt þe quen of þe worþ bestes.

a. 1400.  Leg. Rood, viii. (1871), 143. Weopyng and wo I walt.

a. 1400.  Relig. Pieces fr. Thornton MS., xi. (1914), 88. Wele or wa, ane of þase twa, To welde withowtten ende.

1532.  More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 594/2. God … maketh with the temptacion a way out also, that ye may well weild it.

1579.  Lyly, Euphues, N ij. At the first the Oxe weyldeth not the yoke, nor the Colt the snaffle,… yet time causeth the one to bend his neck [etc.].

  † 3.  a. To decide, determine, ordain; to be the author or cause of; to bring about; to carry out, execute, perform. Obs.

  In OE. chiefly const. gen. In later use prob. transf. from 4.

Beowulf, 2574. Ðær he þy fyrste forman doʓore wealdan moste.

c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., 377. Ʒif hwelc folc bið mid hungre ʓeswenced, & hwa his hwæte ʓehyt & oðhielt, hu ne wilt he … hiera deaðes?

a. 900.  Cynewulf, Elene, 760. Þæs ðu … wealdest.

c. 1000.  Instit. Pol., xxv. in Thorpe, Anc. Laws, II. 340/14. Syndon … cyrcan … wace ʓegriðode … wa þam þe þæs wealt.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 45. Þurh mannes gemeleste … and naht bi his aȝene wille … deað him wes iwealde.

c. 1275.  in O. E. Misc., 101. Bidde we alle þen heye kyng Þat welde schal þe laste dom.

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., A. 811. For synne he set hymself in vayn, That neuer hade non hymself to wolde.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 419. He may no werk soche wilde.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, VIII. Prol. 22. All is wele done, God wait, weild he his will.

  † b.  intr. (for refl.) To occupy oneself, be doing; to act, do, fare (well, etc.); to ‘manage.’

  This use does not seem to be continuous with the intr. sense of OE. wealdan ‘to contrive or manage to do something expressed or implied.’

c. 1400.  Beryn, 1803. Howe shuld o sely lombe, a-mong wolvis weld, And scapen vn-I-harmyd?

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, IV. 339. Now lycht, now sadd; now blisful, now in baill;… Nowe weildand weyle; now calde weddyr, now hett.

a. 1500.  Bernard, de cura rei fam., I. 351. Quham god of mycht bade wald and virke & leffe In wytnes of adame and of eue.

1565.  Satir. Poems Reform., I. 407. Rather given whollie to weld w^th the sworde, Then worke that wisdome have firmelie affied.

1581.  A. Hall, Iliad, V. 93. Although he weelded wel in fight.

1613.  P. Forbes, Comm. Rev., Ep. Ded. The inexpert student, in search of letters weilding amidst infinite variety, is cast in such doubt of choise.

  † 4.  trans. To direct the movement or action of, to control; to use, have the use of, as a bodily member or a faculty; to lead, guide, direct; occas. to hold in check; gen. to deal with, have to do with; to deal with successfully, manage. Obs. or dial. exc. as in 5.

  Here are included various shades of meaning, lit. and fig.: see also below. In quot. 1530, to inflect grammatically. In OE. const. gen.

c. 888.  Ælfred, Boeth., xxxix. § 8. Sio eax welt ealles þæs wænes.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 3093. Hii ne ssolleþ abbe þe leste ston þe wule ich may weld [v.r. wolde] min hond.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Sompn. T., 239. In our Chapitre praye we … To crist þat he thee sende heele and myght Thy body for to weelden.

c. 1450.  Mirk’s Festial, 196. Then callyd þe norys to þe modyr, and bade hur … helpe hur forto folde þe chyldys cloþis; for scho was to woke, and myght not welde hom.

c. 1470.  Golagros & Gaw., 450. Quhill I may my wit wald, I think my fredome to hald.

1508.  Dunbar, Tua Mariit Wemen, 77. Than suld I waill ane … That suld my womanheid weild.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, XII. xii. 129. The wond tarreis Enee sum deyll … To weild hys kne maid sur impedyment.

1530.  Palsgr., Ded. A ii b. How to welde hym [sc. a frenche worde], in his cases, gendre, nombres, modes, tenses, and persons.

1555.  Phaër, Æneid, II. 529. So sayd she, and gan io welde Hym aged man, and in the sacred seat hym set and helde.

1581.  T. Howell, Deuises, G iii b. Let wisedome welde your wit.

1595.  Spenser, Col. Clout, 130. Loue will not be drawne, but must be ledde, And Bregog did so well her fancie weld, That her good will he got her first to wedde. Ibid. (1596), State Irel., Wks. (Globe), 663/2. According to the quantitye of such land, as euerye man … shalbe founde able to weelde.

1601.  Holland, Pliny, X. iii. I. 272. The very Ægles, not able to weld the prey that they have seazed upon, are together with it drawne under the water.

1612.  Drayton, Poly-olb., ii. 131. Her new-beginning banke her water scarcely weelds.

1633.  P. Fletcher, Purple Isl., VII. xli. Her daughters … Much pain’d themselves her stumbling feet to weeld.

1650.  Fuller, Pisgah, III. v. 326. It is no shame for one to admit a partner in that weighty work, which he cannot weild by himself.

1742.  Young, Nt. Th., II. 449. Whose mind was … strong to weild all science.

1891.  Sheffield Gloss., Suppl., A farmer living at Ashover, in Derbyshire, said to me, ‘There’s no farm I could ha’ liked better if I could only ha’ welded it.’

  † b.  refl. in various senses (see above); occas. to conduct oneself, behave. Obs.

c. 1200.  Vices & Virtues (1888), 51. He lai alswa ðat child ðe nan god ne cann, ne speken ne mai, ne isien, ne him seluen wealden.

13[?].  Sir Beues (A.), 368. Whan þow ert of swich elde, Þat þow miȝt þe self wilde, And ert of age.

c. 1375.  Cursor M., 24358 (Fairf.). Þorou mi hert I felde hit stange My-self I muȝt noȝt welde.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 8655. His sheld on his shulders shot was behynd, And his brest left bare,… To weld hym more winly þat worthy to lede.

1426.  Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 20587. Somme be lame, and feble … And somme strong, and gon vp-ryht, And many welde hem sylff ryht wel.

c. 1430.  How Gd. Wijf tauȝte hir Douȝtir, in Babees Bk. (1868), 46. So wysely thee welde That þy frendys haue Ioy of thee.

1545.  Raynalde, Byrth Mankynde, II. ii. (1552), 60 b. Nether can it welde, or helpe it selfe to come forthe.

1647.  Harvey, Sch. of Heart, VI. iii. The limbs unable are themselves to welld [rhyme swell’d].

  † c.  To carry (something heavy or requiring effort). Obs.

c. 1205.  Lay., 1131. Þa Troinisce mea … duden of þan wilden al heora iwilla, to þan scipen wælden [later text to þe sipes ladden so muche so iwolden] Ibid., 21874. Heo … heore uæx fæire wælden to volde [later text hire her faire al hii totere].

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Monk’s T., 272. She wolde kille Leons leopardes and Beres … And in hir Armes weelde hem at hir wille.

a. 1400–50.  Wars Alex., 838. Þan Alexander … Wynnes him vp a wardrere he walt in his handis.

1592.  Kyd, Sp. Trag., I. iv. I tooke him up, and wound him in mine armes; And welding him unto my priuate tent, There laid him downe.

  † d.  To express, utter. Obs. rare.

1581.  A. Hall, Iliad, V. 77. To the Gods … he wold not weeld his thought.

1587.  A. Day, Daphnis & Chloe (1890), 121. The best are mute, And may not weld the greatnes of her praise.

1605.  Shaks., Lear, I. i. 56. Sir, I loue you more then word can weild ye matter.

a. 1635.  Corbet, Poems (1672), 95.

  5.  To use or handle with skill and effect; to manage, actuate, ply (a weapon, tool, or instrument, now always one held or carried in the hand). (The current sense.)

  In OE. const. gen., dat., or instrumental.

Beowulf, 2038. Þenden hie ðam wæpnum wealdan moston.

a. 1000.  Battle of Maldon, 83. Þa hwile þe hi wæpna wealdan moston.

c. 1300.  Havelok, 1436. Nou ich am up to þat helde Cumen, that ich may wepne welde.

1338.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 23. Sex ȝere was he kyng, with werre weldid þe scheld.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, XI. 97. He left mane mycht vapnys velde.

c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., 2000, Ariadne. He … hath Rovme … To welde an axe or swerde or staffe or knyffe.

a. 1400–50.  Wars Alex., 651. Wele & wiȝtly in were to welden a spere.

c. 1425.  Wyntoun, Cron., VII. vii. 1304. A childe … Þat wapynnys mycht noucht wichtly waulde.

c. 1425.  Non-Cycle Myst. Plays (1909), 22/82. Worklooms for to work and weeld.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, IX. ii. 340. Is there ony of you here that wille take vpon hym to welde this shelde?

1563.  P. Whitehorne, Onosandro Platon., 74. Muche lesse the slingers can wild their slinges…: being hindered of the Souldiers.

1598.  Shaks., Merry W., I. iii. 24. O base hungarian wight: wilt y^u the spigot wield?

1603.  G. Owen, Pembrokeshire (1892), 275. Monstrouse cudgells … as bigge as the partie is well able to wild.

1629.  H. Burton, Truth’s Tri., 251. We can tell better how to weald our owne weapons.

1736.  Gray, Statius, i. 1. Whoe’er the quoit can wield, And furthest send its weight.

1784.  Cowper, Task, III. 636. Strength may wield the pond’rous spade.

1798.  Wordsw., Peter Bell, Prol. xxx. A potent wand doth Sorrow wield.

1860.  Tyndall, Glac., I. xxii. 159. Never wielding my hatchet until my balance was secured.

  b.  To wield a or the scepter (and similar phrases): to exercise supreme authority, to reign or rule (also fig.). Cf. SWAY v. 8.

1593.  Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., IV. vi. 73. His Head by nature fram’d to weare a Crowne, His Hand to wield a Scepter.

1595.  Daniel, Civ. Wars, I. xxix. Edward the third being dead, had left this child … The crowne and Scepter of this Realme to wield.

1635.  J. Taylor (Water P.), Old, Old Man, C 4. How he and ’s son th’ eighth Henry, here did wield The Scepter.

1809.  Syd. Smith, Serm., I. 64. Providence … gives to many a man a soul far better than his birth, compelling him to dig with a spade, who had better have wielded a sceptre.

1821.  Scott, Kenilw., vii. The late prime favourite of England, who wielded her general’s staff and controlled her parliaments.

1858.  Max Müller, Chips (1880), III. i. 28. The intellectual sceptre of Germany was wielded by a new nobility.

  c.  To exercise (power, authority, influence).

1612.  T. Taylor, Comm. Titus ii. 9. He forbiddeth them not to exercise rule ouer their seruants, but only teacheth them after what manner to weld their authoritie.

a. 1677.  Barrow, Serm., III. xxii. (R.). To wield power innocently,… for the maintenance of right,… for the suppression of injury,… is a matter of no small skill.

1836.  J. Gilbert, Chr. Atonem., iv. (1852), 97. Physical power wielded by an omnipotent Being … must overcome every possible obstacle.

1861.  Buckle, Civiliz., II. vi. 412. Over the inferior order of minds, they still wield great influence.

1868.  J. H. Blunt. Ref. Ch. Eng., I. 100. Wielding … an authority which he had no just right to wield.

1874.  Green, Short Hist., i. § 6. 53. Dunstan … wielded for sixteen years … the secular and ecclesiastical powers of the realm.

  d.  To use after the fashion of a tool or weapon for the performance of something.

1601.  Sir W. Cornwallis, Ess., II. xlix. Nn 3 b. I am the veriest bungler … that euer welded tongue.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iii. I. 354. Wielding the strength and representing the dignity of the city of London.

1857.  Maurice, Mor. & Met. Philos., IV. vii. § 13. 343. Wielding the learning of the old times with incomparable facility.

1871.  T. R. Jones, Anim. Kingd. (ed. 4), 725. The dorsal ribs [of serpents] wielded … by … powerful muscles … perform the office of internal legs.

1882.  Pebody, Engl. Journalism, xxiii. 183. A trained soldier wielding a graphic and powerful pen.

1886.  A. Weir, Hist. Basis Mod. Europe (1889), 588. [The] increasing importance of the middle classes, as they wielded more efficiently capital and machinery.

1918.  A. Menzies, Calvin, 396. Who could wield such scathing invective?

  Hence Wielded ppl. a.; also (nonce-wds.) Wieldable a., capable of being wielded; † Wieldance, the action of wielding.

1800.  Southey, in Robberds, Mem. W. Taylor, I. 325. As easy and as *wieldable as blank verse.

c. 1625.  Bp. Hall, St. Paul’s Combat, II. Wks. 1634, II. 451. This spirituall edge shall either turne againe, or (through our weake *weildance) not enter the stubburne and thick hide of obdured hearts.

1842.  Tennyson, Talking Oak, lxvi. May never saw dismember thee, Nor *wielded axe disjoint.