01 v. t. To govern; to rule; to keep, or have in charge; also, to possess.
imp. & p. p.
Wielded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Wielding
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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.)
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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.
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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.
Phrases & compounds
To wield the scepter —
to govern with supreme command.