wield

• POS: Verb (transitive)
• COUNT in NET: 1 in 1 verses (in OT : 1 in 1 verses)

CIDE DICTIONARY

wield, v. t. [OE. welden to govern, to have power over, to possess, AS. geweldan, gewyldan, from wealdan; akin to OS. waldan, OFries. walda, G. walten, OHG. waltan, Icel. valda, Sw. vålla to occasion, to cause, Dan. volde, Goth. waldan to govern, rule, L. valere to be strong. Cf. Herald, Valiant.].

•  To govern; to rule; to keep, or have in charge; also, to possess.  [1913 Webster]

  "When a strong armed man keepeth his house, all things that he wieldeth ben in peace."  [1913 Webster]

  "Wile [ne will] ye wield gold neither silver ne money in your girdles."  [1913 Webster]
•  To direct or regulate by influence or authority; to manage; to control; to sway.  [1913 Webster]

  "The famous orators . . . whose resistless eloquence
  Wielded at will that fierce democraty."  [1913 Webster]

  "Her newborn power was wielded from the first by unprincipled and ambitions men."  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "Base Hungarian wight! wilt thou the spigot wield!"  [1913 Webster]

  "Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming steed."  [1913 Webster]

  "Nothing but the influence of a civilized power could induce a savage to wield a spade."  [1913 Webster]

To wield the scepter, to govern with supreme command.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

wield, v.tr.
1 hold and use (a weapon or tool).
2 exert or command (power or authority etc.).

Derivative

wielder n.

Etymology

OE wealdan, wieldan f. Gmc

THESAURUS

wield

brandish, come in contact, conduct, control, dispense, do with, employ, exercise, exert, feel, feel of, finger, flap, flaunt, flick, float, flourish, flutter, fly, handle, make use of, manage, maneuver, manipulate, operate, palm, palpate, paw, play, ply, poke at, practice, prod, put out, shake, swing, tap, throw, thumb, touch, twiddle, undulate, use, utilize, wag, wave, wigwag, work

ROGET THESAURUS

wield

Use

VB use, make use of, employ, put to use, put in action, put in operation, put in practice, set in motion, set to work, ply, work, wield, handle, manipulate, play, play off, exert, exercise, practice, avail oneself of, profit by, resort to, have recourse to, recur to, take betake oneself to, take up with, take advantage of, lay one's hands on, try, render useful, mold, turn to account, turn to use, convert to use, utilize, work up, call into play, bring into play, put into requisition, call forth, draw forth, press into service, enlist into the service, bring to bear upon, devote, dedicate, consecrate, apply, adhibit, dispose of, make a handle of, make a cat's-paw of, fall back upon, make a shift with, make the most of, make the best of, use up, swallow up, consume, absorb, expend, tax, task, wear, put to task.

Agitation

VB be agitated, shake, tremble, tremble like an aspen leaf, quiver, quaver, quake, shiver, twitter, twire, writhe, toss, shuffle, tumble, stagger, bob, reel, sway, wag, waggle, wriggle, wriggle like an eel, dance, stumble, shamble, flounder, totter, flounce, flop, curvet, prance, cavort, squirm, throb, pulsate, beat, palpitate, go pitapat, flutter, flitter, flicker, bicker, bustle, ferment, effervesce, foam, boil, boil over, bubble up, simmer, toss about, jump about, jump like a parched pea, shake like an aspen leaf, shake to its center, shake to its foundations, be the sport of the winds and waves, reel to and fro like a drunken man, move from post to pillar and from pillar to post, drive from post to pillar and from pillar to post, keep between hawk and buzzard, agitate, shake, convulse, toss, tumble, bandy, wield, brandish, flap, flourish, whisk, jerk, hitch, jolt, jog, joggle, jostle, buffet, hustle, disturb, stir, shake up, churn, jounce, wallop, whip, vellicate.

Touch

VB touch, feel, handle, finger, thumb, paw, fumble, grope, grabble, twiddle, tweedle, pass the fingers over, run the fingers over, manipulate, wield, throw out a feeler.