v. Obs. Also 3 biwelden, 4–5 by-, bewelde, 6 bewylde. [ME. biwelden, f. bi-, BE- 2 + welden, to WIELD.] trans. To hold in hand, rule, control, manage, handle, wield. refl. To use one’s limbs.

1

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 25. Þe holie þremnesse þe shop and biwalt alle shafte.

2

1393.  Gower, Conf., III. 377 (MS. Harl. 3490). And may my selven nought bewelde, What for sikenesse and what for elde.

3

1483.  Caxton, Gold. Leg., 99/1. Thyse ii … toke of theyr clothes … to thende that they myght better & lyghtlyer bywelde them to stone hym.

4

1494.  Fabyan, V. cxxviii. 110. To bewelde his lande when his fader dyed.

5

1530.  Palsgr., 453/2. I bewylde my selfe, I styrre my selfe.

6

1577.  Harrison, Descr. Brit., v. (R.). Gerards staffe … which … no man can beweld.

7