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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)