WIELD • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Wield

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verb

Wield v. t. (past & past part. wielded; pres. part. wielding)

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." "Wile (ne will) ye wield gold neither silver ne money in your girdles."

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." "Her newborn power was wielded from the first by unprincipled and ambitions men."

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!" "Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming steed." "Nothing but the influence of a civilized power could induce a savage to wield a spade."

To wield the scepter, to govern with supreme command.

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Etymology of 'Wield'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Wield" Quotes from Famous Books

... little fear he had entertained in childhood for his stepfather; but he did not calculate on the cunning and treachery which in Hugh Price had taken the place of strength. He realized not the powerful weapons which Price could wield in the ...

— The Real America in Romance, Volume 6; A Century Too Soon (A Story - of Bacon's Rebellion) • John R. Musick

... said. "I believe it is only a flesh wound, for I can wield my sword yet." And he raised it up, and pointing it at the breast of the fallen wretch, who lay groaning at his feet—"We must secure him," said the Colonel; "and, at the same time, be on our guard against his cowardly associate. If he could walk, I would know how to act ...

— Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Volume 17 • Alexander Leighton

... of humanity. He was not a man of extensive learning, though he was pretty well versed in philosophy and in history, and by pains and industry had made himself an accomplished orator. He could thus wield a great influence by his speeches to the people ...

— The Story of Rome From the Earliest Times to the End of the Republic • Arthur Gilman

... uniform, the disgrace brought upon it, and the admiration of the chambermaid, as well as the salute of the sentinel, all which formed a combustible in my brain. I went off like a flash, and darted my fist (the weapon I had been most accustomed to wield) into the left eye of my adversary, with a force and precision which Crib would have applauded. Murphy staggered back with the blow, and for a moment I flattered myself he had had enough ...

— Frank Mildmay • Captain Frederick Marryat

... will be safe and the empire safe. For it needs, I am persuaded, for Rome to be as pure as she is great, to be eternal in her dominion, and then the civilizer and saviour of the whole world. O, glorious age!—not remote—when truth shall wield the sceptre in Caesar's seat, and subject nations of the earth no longer come up to Rome to behold and copy her vices, but to hear the law and be imbued with the doctrine of Christ, so bearing back to the remotest province precious seed, there to be planted, and spring up and ...

— Aurelian - or, Rome in the Third Century • William Ware

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