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wield

 - 3 dictionary results

wield

  [weeld]
Use wield in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to exercise (power, authority, influence, etc.), as in ruling or dominating.
2. to use (a weapon, instrument, etc.) effectively; handle or employ actively.
3. Archaic. to guide or direct.
4. Archaic. to govern; manage.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME welden, OE wieldan to control, deriv. of wealdan to rule; c. G walten, ON valda, Goth waldan; akin to L valēre to be strong, prevail

Related forms:
wield⋅a⋅ble, adjective
wielder, noun

Synonyms:
1. exert, employ, utilize. 2. manipulate, control.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To wield
wield   (wēld)   
tr.v.   wield·ed, wield·ing, wields

  1. To handle (a weapon or tool, for example) with skill and ease.

  2. To exercise (authority or influence, for example) effectively. See Synonyms at handle.


[Middle English welden, from Old English wealdan, to rule, and wieldan, to govern; see wal- in Indo-European roots.]
wield'a·ble adj., wield'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

wield 
O.E. weldan (Mercian), wieldan, wealdan (W.Saxon) "to govern, possess, have control over" (class VII strong verb; past tense weold, pp. gewealden), merged with weak verb wyldan, both from P.Gmc. *wal-t- (cf. O.S., Goth. waldan, O.Fris. walda "to govern, rule," O.N. valda "to rule, wield, to cause," O.H.G. waltan, Ger. walten "to rule, govern"), probably from PIE *waldh- (cf. O.C.S. vlado "to rule," vlasti "power;" Lith. veldu "to rule, possess"), from base *wal- "to be strong, to rule" (see valiant).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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