Adjacent Words

Wield definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

WIELD, v.t. [L. The primary sense of power and strength is to stretch or strain.]
1. To use with full command or power, as a thing not too heavy for the holder; to manage; as, to wield a sword; to wield the scepter.
Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming steed.
2. To use or employ with the hand.
Nothing but the influence of a civilized power could induce a savage to wield a spade.
3. To handle; in an ironical sense.
Base Hungarian wight, wilt thou the spigot wield?
To wield the scepter, to govern with supreme command.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

v
1: have and exercise; "wield power and authority" [syn: wield, exert, maintain]
2: handle effectively; "The burglar wielded an axe"; "The young violinist didn't manage her bow very well" [syn: wield, handle, manage]

Merriam Webster's

transitive verb Etymology: Middle English welden to control, from Old English wieldan; akin to Old High German waltan to rule, Latin val?re to be strong, be worth Date: before 12th century 1. chiefly dialect to deal successfully with ; manage 2. to handle (as a tool) especially effectively <wield a broom> 3. a. to exert one's authority by means of <wield influence> b. have at one's command or disposal <did not wield appropriate credentials — G. W. Bonham> • wielder noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v.tr. 1 hold and use (a weapon or tool). 2 exert or command (power or authority etc.). Derivatives: wielder n. Etymology: OE wealdan, wieldan f. Gmc

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Wield Wield, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Wielded; p. pr. & vb. n. Wielding.] [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. v[*a]lla to occasion, to cause, Dan. volde, Goth. waldan to govern, rule, L. valere to be strong. Cf. Herald, Valiant.] 1. 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. --Wyclif (Luke xi. 21). Wile [ne will] ye wield gold neither silver ne money in your girdles. --Wyclif (Matt. x. 9.) 2. 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. --Milton. Her newborn power was wielded from the first by unprincipled and ambitions men. --De Quincey. 3. 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! --Shak. Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming steed. --Milton. Nothing but the influence of a civilized power could induce a savage to wield a spade. --S. S. Smith. To wield the scepter, to govern with supreme command.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(wields, wielding, wielded) 1. If you wield a weapon, tool, or piece of equipment, you carry and use it. ...a lone assailant wielding a kitchen knife. VERB: V n 2. If someone wields power, they have it and are able to use it. He remains chairman, but wields little power at the company. VERB: V n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

v. a. 1. Handle, brandish. 2. Manage, use, control, make use of.

Moby Thesaurus

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