▪ I. † wield, n. Obs.
Forms: α. 1–3 weald, 1 -wild, -wyld, North. wæld, 3–4 weld, 4 weilde, 4–5 welde, weild, 5 weelde, wielde, wylde. β. 2–5 (6 Sc.) wald, 3–5 walde, 5 Sc. wauld. γ. 3–5 wold, 3–6 wolde.
[(1) OE. weald (rare), usually ᵹeweald, Anglian ᵹewald = OS. giwald, OHG. gawalt (MHG., G. gewalt); (2) OE. *(ᵹe)-wield, -wild, -wyld, *-weld: see y- and wield v.]
1. Command, control; possession, keeping; occas. hold, grasp: chiefly in phr. at, in, on (one's) w.; to have in w., to have command or control of, to possess, have; to w., in or into one's possession. (See also 4 a.)
| α c 893 ælfred Oros. ii. iv. § 10 Hie..þæt win drincende wæron oð hi heora selfra lytel ᵹeweald hæfdon. Ibid. iii. ix. §10 æfter þæm þe Alexander hæfde ealle Indie him to ᵹewildon ᵹedon. Ibid. iv. xi. §4 Þa bæd he Scipian friþes, & him his sunu ham onsende, se wæs on his ᵹewealde [Cott. MS. wealde]. a 1300 Cursor M. 462 Qui suld I him seruis yeild? Al sal be at myn auen weild. Ibid. 788 Sone quen sco þis frutte biheild, Sco desirred it to haue in weild. Ibid. 25445 Þou þat has þis werld to weld. 1338 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 160 Vitaile inouh at weld. ? a 1366 Chaucer Rom. Rose 395 The tyme, that hath al in welde To elden folk, had maad hir elde. c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 3716 Þat y mote þe seo, On crysten mannes welde. a 1400–50 Wars Alex. 2994 An ymage..Of Sexeres þat sum-quyle þat cite had to welde. c 1400 Roland & Otuel 828 Thaire saules went alle to lucyfere, Þat hade þam alle to welde. c 1440 York Myst. i. 67 All welth in my weelde es. a 1500 Hist. K. Boccus & Sydracke (? 1510) G ij b, Whan the colers haue al in welde A great keelth in man they yelde. 1567 Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.) 166 All this warld to weild thow had. |
| β 971 Blickl. Hom. 47 Hi habbaþ maneᵹa saula on heora ᵹewaldum. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 147 Ne mei na Mon me folȝen, bute he forlete al þet he iwald ach. c 1200 Ormin Ded. 204 To lesenn mannkinn þurrh his dæþ Ut off þe defless walde. a 1300 Cursor M. 9482 (Cott.) Nu has him sathanas in wald. 13.. Ibid. 21917 (Edin.) Alle sal we die bath ginge and alde Es [= as] nau havis of him selvin walde. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxi. (Clement) 10 Wedyr & wynd he has in wald. c 1470 Henry Wallace x. 579 God, that has the warld in wauld. |
| γ c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 1958 Ȝet wast bettre he ðus was sold, Ðan he ðor storue in here wold. Ibid. 3116 ‘Wold’, quod god, ‘wile ðor-of crauen’. 13.. K. Alis. 6716 (Laud MS.) Þou shalt habbe..my londe al to wolde. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 3215 Þou hast namo breþere in wold; Þy fader ys ded, þy moder ys old. c 1440 York Myst. xxxii. 273 We wille it noght welde with-in oure wolde. a 1450 Le Morte Arth. 3233 Goo thow, syr lucan de boteler, That wyse wordys haste in wolde. c 1460 Towneley Myst. vii. 32 God that has alle in wold. Ibid. xxviii. 137 When I gaf myself to wold to you in fourme of bred. a 1500 Hist. K. Boccus & Sydracke (? 1510) I ij b, The payne that he had fyrst in wold Shal than be encresed thre fold. |
b. In gen. case in advb. phr. willes and waldes: intentionally and purposely.
| c 980–1060 Laws of æthelred vi. lii, Ᵹif hit ᵹeweorþeð þæt man unwilles oþþe unᵹewealdes æniᵹ þing misdeð, na bið þæt na ᵹelic þam þe willes & ᵹewealdes sylfwilles misdeð. a 1225 Ancr. R. 6 Heo..sunegeð deadliche iðe bruche, ᵹif heo hit brekeð willes & woldes. c 1230 Hali Meid. 37 Þat forschuppes te self willes & waldes into hare cunde. |
2. Power, might, force, strength.
| c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 2000 To don swilc dede adde he no wold. a 1300 Cursor M. 3564 Til vnwelth windes al his wald. ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 2689 Þoffe my schouldire be schrede, and my schelde thyrllede, And the wielde of myne arme werkkes a littille. a 1510 Douglas K. Hart ii. 220 All thing ȝe haue wrocht With help of Wisdome, and his willis wald. |
3. Meaning, significance (cf. 4 c).
| c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 2122 If he can rechen ðis dremes wold. |
4. In phr. aȝen (owen) awold, also aȝen or haven wold (wald, weld), representing OE. on (ᵹe-)wealde habban, and ᵹeweald áᵹan or habban with genitive (cf. a prep.1, o prep.1, owe v. B. 1): a. To have in control or possession, possess.
| [Beowulf 1727 He ah ealra ᵹeweald. c 1000 Dream of the Rood 107 On domdæᵹe dryhten..ah domes ᵹeweald.] c 1000 in Anglia I. 31 Hine..þet alle þing haueð on wealde. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 79 Swo holie mihte is þoleburdnesse þat he þe hit kið, þer þurh haueð his soule weald. Ibid., He..þermide ouercumeð þe unfele and his soule lokeð, and haueð swo wald. Ibid. 205 Bute he forsake alle þe woreld winne þat he weld ahȝ. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 3412 Al bi ðhusenz ðis folc was told, Ilc ðhusent adde a meister wold. a 1275 Prov. ælfred 181 in O.E. Misc. 113 Ȝif þu hauest welþe a wold. a 1300 Harrow. Hell 232 (Digby MS.) Ich am moises..Ich dude þe lawen þat þou astolde Wor to ben owin [MS. oþin] on wolde. |
b. To be the cause of, be responsible for: = wield v. B. 3 a.
| c 1200 Ormin 11815, I me sellf all ah itt wald Þatt deofell maȝȝ me scrennkenn. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 2054 He herde hem murnen..Harde dremes oȝen awold ðat. |
c. To mean, signify, denote, imply.
| c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 324 Quat oȝet nu ðat for-bode o-wold, Ðat a tre ȝu forboden is..? Ibid. 1671 Luue wel michil it aȝte a wold, Swilc seruise and so longe told. Ibid. 1944 Quat-so his dremes owen a-wold. a 1300 Havelok 1932 Betere is..i se Wat þis baret haueth on wold [MS. Þat þis baret on hwat is wold]. |
▪ II. † wield, a. Obs.
Forms: 1 wielde, wylde, 2–3 welde, 3 wilde.
[OE. wielde, also ᵹewielde, f. root of wield n.]
Strong, powerful, mighty.
| c 890 Wærferth tr. Gregory's Dial. iv. xxxvii. 320 Ac þæt is bedeohlod us..hweþer þa wyldre wære in Stephane & þone siᵹor ahte. c 893 ælfred Oros. iv. i. 156 Hit næs þeaw on þæm tidum þæt mon æniᵹ wæl on þa healfe rimde þe þonne wieldre wæs. c 1000 ælfric Saints' Lives xvi. 336 Þæt se mann beo ᵹeðyldiᵹ,..and læte æfre his ᵹewitt ᵹe⁓wyldre þonne his yrre. [c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 105 Weldre þene his wreððe.] a 1272 Luue Ron 94 in O.E. Misc. 96 He is..freo of heorte, of wisdom wilde. c 1275 Lay. 3197 Þo we[n]de þe welde-king þat hit were for gyle. |
▪ III. wield, v.
(wiːld)
Forms: see below.
[Two OE. verbs are here represented: (1) a Com. Teut. reduplicating strong verb, OE. (WS.) wealdan, (Anglian) waldan, pa. tense wéold, pa. pple. ᵹe-wealden (see waldin) = OFris. walda, OS. gi-waldan, pa. tense giwêld, OHG. waltan, pa. tense wialt (MHG. walten, pa. tense wielt, G. walten weak), ON. valda, pres. væld, pa. tense (weak) olla, pa. pple. neut. valdet (Sw. vålla, Da. volde to cause, occasion), Goth. waldan; (2) a weak verb, OE. (WS.) *ᵹe-wieldan, wildan, wyldan, (Anglian) wældan, containing a mutated form of the same stem walđ- (see also wield n. and a.), = Balto-Slavic wald- (:weld-) in OSl. vlado to rule, vlastĭ power, Lith. veldu to rule, possess, iterative valda{utilde}, OPrussian weldīsnan acc., inheritance, wāldnikans acc. pl., kings; another grade is in Goth. wulþus glory.
The above forms are generally held to contain an extended form of the root of L. valēre to be strong, validus strong, Celtic walo- in many proper names, and in *walatros (whence MWelsh gwaladr chief), ON. pa. tense olla (:—*wul-þō).
The current form wield descends from ME. wēlde(n (see A. 1 ε.) as representing OE. (non-WS.) *weldan, variant of WS. wieldan, not as representing WS. wealdan, the Anglian form of which gave ME. wālde, wǭlde (A. 1 β, γ). The pa. tense and pple. in -ed are new formations dating from the 14th century. (The OE. and early ME. contracted forms of the 2nd and 3rd pres. indic. sing. of OE. wealdan and wieldan (A. 1 η) are identical.)]
A. Illustration of Forms.
1. inf. and pres. stem. (α) 1 wealdan, 2–3 wealden.
| c 888 ælfred Boeth. xxxix. §8 Sume..secgað {thbar} sio wyrd wealde æᵹþer ᵹe ᵹesælða ᵹe unᵹesælða. c 1000 Beowulf 2038 Þenden hie ðam wæpnum wealdan moston. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 79 On ȝiwer þoleburdnesse ȝe shulen wealden ȝiwer saule. c 1230 Hali Meid. 577 Wið him þu schalt wealden,..heouenliche wunnen. |
(β) 1 waldan, wældan, 3–4 walde(n (3 wælden), 4 Sc. valde, 4–5 Sc. wauld(e, 4–5 (9 Sc.) wald.
| c 825 Vesp. Ps. lxxxviii[i]. 10 [9] Ðu waldes maehte sæs. c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Mark x. 42 Wutas ᵹie forðon ðas ðaðe ᵹesene sint þæt hia aldordom [sic] hædnum ᵹe-wældes ðæm. a 1000 Boeth. Metr. xxiv. 35 Se ðe waldeð..ealra oðra eorðan cyninga. c 1205 Lay. 1250, & scal þin mære kun wælden þus londes. Ibid. 2966 Hu mochel worȝ leste þu me to walden kineriche? 12.. Moral Ode 2 (Egerton MS.), Ic wælde more þanne ic dude. a 1300 Cursor M. 9958 Þan was þar neuer suilk a hald, Ne nan welier in werld to wald. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xl. (Ninian) 1178 To wauld ȝoure lymmys at ȝour wil. c 1425 waulde [see B. 5]. a 1500 Bernard. de cura rei fam. i. 351 Quham god of mycht bade wald and virke. 1825 Jamieson, Wald, walde, to wield, to manage, to govern, to possess. 1915 wald [see B. 1 b]. |
(γ) 3–5 wolde, 4 wold.
| c 1260 K. Horn 308 (Camb. MS.) Me to spuse holde, & ich þe lord to wolde. c 1425 Cursor M. 22874 (Trin.) Miȝty god þat al woldeþ. c 1460 Towneley Myst. xxvi. 1 Peasse, I warne you, woldys in wytt! |
(δ) 1 wildan, wyldan, 4–5 wilde, wylde, 6–7 wild.
| c 960 æthelwold Rule St. Benet (1885) 11 He sceal mid twyfealdre lare þa wyldan and tyn, þe him underþeodde synt. 13.. Cursor M. 6741 (Gött.) And na keping did him in wilde, Ox for ox þan sal he ȝelde. 1387 wilde [see B. 3 a]. c 1480 wilde [see B. 2]. c 1485 wyldyng [see wielding ppl. a.]. 1563, 1603 wild [see B. 5]. |
(ε) 2–4 welden (5 -on), 3–4 weld(e, 4 Sc. velde; 4–8 weild, 5–6 weilde, 6 weyld, Sc. veild; 4–6 weelde, 5–7 weeld; 6–7 weald; 6 wielde, wyelde, 6– wield.
| c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 153 Þa awariede gastes þet weldeð þosternesse [rectores tenebrarum]. a 1200 Moral Ode 2 (Lamb. MS.) Ich welde mare þene ich dede. c 1205 Lay. 1140 Þe wrse hit hafde to welden. a 1300 Cursor M. 22813 Al mai he do he þat al weldes. c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 369 Þes goodis þat þei welden now. c 1400 Destr. Troy 1881 For to wirke with my wille, & weld as myn owne. |
| a 1300 Cursor M. 586 Adam was mad of mans eild, Als he moght welle him self weild. c 1400 Sc. Trojan War (Horstm.) ii. 1625 Gevin..To king Teuteus, to kepe and weild. 1500–20 Dunbar Poems xxi. 61 O! quha sall weild the wrang possessioun. 1579 weyld [see B. 2 b]. 1581 W. Stafford Exam. Compl. iii. (1876) 77 Hauinge much land in their hand, and not being able to weilde all. 1696 Phillips (ed. 5), To weild, to manage, to govern: Thus we say to weild a Scepter. 1742 weild [see B. 4]. |
| c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 22 Þei ben endurid in her unskilful errour til eendelees deeþ weelde hem. c 1425 weeld [see B. 5]. c 1449 Pecock Repr. iii. i. 276 Ȝe schulen not weelde eny thing in the lond of hem. 1603 Drayton Odes i. 49 That sturdy Glebes, And massie Oakes could weeld. 1633 weeld [see B. 4]. |
| 1593 Churchyard Challenge 22 Why doe wee wish, to weald a world at will? 1629 weald [see B. 5]. |
| 1559 Mirr. Mag., Dk. Suffolk ix, They were more then we might easely wyelde. 1586 Marlowe 1st Pt. Tamburl. ii. i, What stature wields he, and what personage? 1590 Spenser F.Q. ii. i. 18 Vnder him a gray steede did he wield. |
(ζ) (with short vowel) 6–7 weld(e, (7 welld).
| 1530 welde [see B. 4]. c 1550 Disc. Common Weal Eng. (1893) 100 Havinge muche landes in theire handes, and not being able to welde all. 1591 Spenser Ruines of Time 14 A broken rod she held, Which towards heauen shee seemd on high to weld. 1594 Willobie Avisa xxv. iii, You see the sore, whence springs my griefe, You weld the sterne of my reliefe. a 1628 F. Grevil Mustapha i. i, Strength knowes what strength can weld. 1647 welld [see B. 4 b]. |
(η) 2nd and 3rd sing. pres. contr. 1 weltst, wylst, wylt, wilt, 1–3 wealt, 1–4 welt, 3–5 walt.
| c 888 weltst, welt [see B. 1, 4]. c 897 wilt [see B. 3 a]. c 1000 Ags. Ps. (Th.) ii. 9 Þu heora wylst. c 1000 wealt [see B. 3 a]. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 181 We one awlencð alle þe hundlimen, and welt þe sowle. c 1205 Lay. 32049 Ure drihten þe walt alle deden. a 1225 Leg. Kath. 1798 He..wisseð & wealt—þe heouene & te eorðe. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 54 Hali froure welt oc ðat miȝt. c 1275 Moral Ode 83 in O.E. Misc. 61 He wit and wald [v.rr. waldeð, walt, wealdeð] alle þing. 13.. Guy Warw. (A.) 3892 Lord þat woneþ an heye, Þat al þing walt fer & neye. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. x. 83 Þe more he wynneth and welt welthes & ricchesse,..þe lasse good he deleth. c 1425 Cursor M. 23105 (Trin.) Þe lord of myȝt þat al walt. |
2. pa. tense. (α) 1 weold, wieold, 3 wield, 3–5 weld(e.
| Beowulf 465 Ic..weold folce Deniᵹa. c 897 ælfred Gregory's Past. C. l. 391 Maniᵹra folca ᵹestreones hie wieoldon. c 1100 O.E. Chron. (MS. D) an. 1036, Þæt ne ᵹeþafodon þa þe micel weoldon on þisan lande. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 169 On alle þe winne þe he erur wield. c 1205 Lay. 183 He wes king & heo quen & kinelond heo welden. 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) I. 7 Riches þat þey welde [Caxton welded] while þey were alyue. |
(β) 1 wylde, 2 (ȝe)wellde, -welt, 3–4 welt(e, welde.
| a 1000 Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 225/1 Domuit, i. uicit, mitigauit, wylde. c 1175 E.E. (Vesp.) Hom. 106 Ic ȝewellde & ȝewann feola þeodan. Ibid. 107 Ne mid his scelde heo ne ȝewelt. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 532 Wimmen welten weres mester. c 1350 welt [see B. 2]. |
(γ) 3 wald(e, wælde, 4–5 walt; 3–5 wolde, 4 wolt.
| c 1205 Lay. 8976 Androgeus walde [later text welde] al þat he wolde. Ibid. 24134 Na lengere þat lond he ne walde [later text wolde]. a 1250 Prov. ælfred 389 in O.E. Misc. 126 Þeyh o mon wolde al þe worlde. 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 231 He stemmed & con studie, Quo walt þer most renoun. Ibid. 485 Wyth wele walt þay þat day. c 1350 Will. Palerne 3887 Was neuer man vpon mold þat swiche miȝt walt. a 1425 Cursor M. 10181 (Trin.) Þe secounde party þat he walt Was among þe prestes dalt. |
(δ) 4–7 welded (4 -id), 5–6 Sc. weildit, 6 weelded, 7 weilded, 7– wielded.
| 1338 weldid [see B. 5]. 1382 Wyclif Isa. lxiii. 18 As noȝt thei weldeden thin hoeli puple. c 1475 Rauf Coilȝear 578 The wy that weildit the wane. 1601 welded [see B. 5 d]. 1838 James Louis XIV, III. iii. 89 Boileau too wielded his satirical pen. |
3. pa. pple. 1 ᵹewealden, 3 iwealde, iwald, wold, 5 welde(n, weld; 1 wyld(d; 4 weldid, 7 (9 dial.) welded, 7– wielded.
| Beowulf 1732 [He] ᵹedeð him..ᵹewealdene worolde dælas. c 1000 Ags. Ps. (Spelman) xviii. 14 [xix. 13] Ᵹif min hine beoþ wyldde. c 1200 [see B. 3]. a 1225 Leg. Kath. 189 Al þe world is iwald þurh his wissunge. c 1250 wold [see B. 1 c]. a 1340 Hampole Psalter xv. 7 Thurgh þe whilke þe heritage of heuen may be sene and weldid. a 1425 Cursor M. 13821 (Trin.) Eiȝte & þritty ȝeer in bonde Haue I not welden foot ny honde. c 1470 Harding Chron. ccix. iii, The which the duke of Bargoyn wold haue weld. Ibid. ccxxxii. iii, So was the lande w{supt} Frenchmen wonne & welde. 1688 Holme Armoury iii. vii. 321/2 The Hand Hammer..may be welded..with one hand. 1750 Johnson Rambler No. 82 ¶10 A Scymitar once wielded by a Soldier. 1891 welded [see B. 4]. |
B. Signification.
† 1. trans. To rule or reign over, govern, rule, command. Obs. exc. as merged in 5.
| Beowulf 465 Ic..weold folce Deniᵹa. c 888 ælfred Boeth. xxxiii. §5 Dryhten..þu ðe ealle..ᵹesceafta..ᵹesceope &..heora weltst. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 153 To fihten..to-ȝeines þa awariede gastes þet weldeð þosternesse [rectores tenebrarum]. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 840 Ðe kinges welten burȝes ðoa. 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 9891 God almyȝty, þat al þyng weldes. ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 650, I make the kepare, sir knyghte, of kyngrykes manye,..to weilde al my landes. c 1420 Prose Life Alex. 37 So sall ȝe wele & peysably welde ȝour empire. a 1513 Fabyan Chron. i. cxcix. (1811) 206 Weldynge y⊇ countre at his wyll. 1575 Gascoigne Kenelworth Wks. 1910 II. 115 Though she finde the skil A kingdome for to weelde. 1633 Bp. Hall Hard Texts Neh. v. 14, I, and my familie have not taken that allowance which was appointed for the governour, so as, though I weilded the place, yet I forbore to take the maintenance allotted unto it. |
b. intr. To rule, have the command; fig. to prevail. Obs. exc. Sc. dial.
| a 1450 Ratis Raving 2270 Vilfulnes and mysknawleg Ay wodly weildand. ? a 1500 Chester Pl. (Shaks. Soc.) vi. 112 As was from the begininge, And never shall have endinge, From worlde to worlde aye weildinge, Amen! God of mighte moste. 1915 G. Sinclair Poems 63 May..love an' friendship freely wald Around her ingle. |
† c. trans. To overcome, subdue. Obs.
| a 1000 [see A. 2 β]. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 421 Abel an hundred ȝer was hold, Ðan he was of is broðer wold. Ibid. 526 Ðor is writen quat aȝte awold, Ðat ðis werld was [of ?] water wold. |
† 2. To have at command or disposal, have as one's own or in one's keeping, hold, own, possess; to have the advantage of, enjoy; sometimes (contextually), to get possession of, gain, win, obtain.
| Beowulf 2051 Hi weoldon wælstowe. a 1000 Guthlac 239 Oft we oferseᵹon..þeoda þeawas, þræce modiᵹra, þara þe in ᵹelimpe life weoldon. 11.. in Kemble Cod. Dipl. IV. 200 And ic cyðe eow ðæt Ordric abbud and eal ðæt hired on Abbendunes mynstre be minre unne and ᵹife friᵹelice habban and wealdan Hornemeres hunred on hyre aᵹenre andwealde. c 1220 Bestiary 176 If ðu hauest is broken, Al ðu forbreðes, forwurðes and forgelues, Eche lif to wolden. a 1225 Ancr. R. 388 [Christ] wrot mid his owune blode saluz to his leofmon, of luue gretunge..forte welden hire luue. a 1300 Cursor M. 10328 Oft sith lates he be lett Man wit womman child to gett, Bituix and þair forþer eild, And þan þam sendes child to weild. Ibid. 24188 Moght i þe ans weld in arm, Hale me think of all mi harm. 13.. [see A. 2 γ]. 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 835 Ȝe ar welcum to welde as yow lykez Þat here is; al is yowre awen, to haue at yowre wylle. c 1350 Will. Palerne 76 Þai seide þe child schuld weld al here godis. Ibid. 144 He wex to a wer⁓wolf..ac his witt welt he after as wel as to-fore. Ibid. 2946, I not where he schal ȝou to wiue welde. c 1386 Chaucer Monk's T. 20 Adam..welte all Paradys sauynge o tree. 1470–85 Malory Arthur v. vii. 172 Ye be worthy to welde all your honour and worship. c 1480 Childe of Bristowe 542 in Horstmann Altengl. Leg. (1881) 321, Y haue no childe, Myn heritage for to wilde. 1513 Douglas æneis vii. vi. 127 Lat nevir his feris weild Ane fut braid of Italiane ground nor feyld. 1586 [see A. 1 ε]. 1593 Churchyard Challenge 116 What cunning heads and hands can catch in hold, That covetous mindes, doth seek to weld alone. 1603 Holland Plutarch's Mor. 510 They..would never be able with wisdom and moderation to weld any great prosperitie [τὰς εὐπραγίας..ϕέρειν]. |
† b. To have in oneself, experience, feel; to have as one's lot or fate, suffer, undergo; to suffer patiently, endure, tolerate. Obs.
| c 1350 Will. Palerne 2990 So gret wonder walt þe quen of þe worþ bestes. a 1400 Leg. Rood viii. (1871) 143 Weopyng and wo I walt. a 1400 Relig. Pieces fr. Thornton MS. xi. (1914) 88 Wele or wa, ane of þase twa, To welde with⁓owtten ende. 1532 More Confut. Tindale Wks. 594/2 God..maketh with the temptacion a way out also, that ye may well weild it. 1579 Lyly Euphues N ij, At the first the Oxe weyldeth not the yoke, nor the Colt the snaffle,..yet time causeth the one to bend his neck [etc.]. |
† 3. a. To decide, determine, ordain; to be the author or cause of; to bring about; to carry out, execute, perform. Obs.
In OE. chiefly const. gen. In later use prob. transf. from 4.
| Beowulf 2574 Ðær he þy fyrste forman doᵹore wealdan moste. c 897 ælfred tr. Gregory's Past. C. 377 Ᵹif hwelc folc bið mid hungre ᵹeswenced, & hwa his hwæte ᵹehyt & oðhielt, hu ne wilt he..hiera deaðes? a 900 Cynewulf Elene 760 Þæs ðu..wealdest. c 1000 Instit. Pol. xxv. in Thorpe Anc. Laws II. 340/14 Syndon..cyrcan..wace ᵹegriðode..wa þam þe þæs wealt. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 45 Þurh mannes gemeleste..and naht bi his aȝene wille..deað him wes iwealde. c 1275 in O.E. Misc. 101 Bidde we alle þen heye kyng Þat welde schal þe laste dom. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. A. 811 For synne he set hymself in vayn, That neuer hade non hymself to wolde. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) I. 419 He may no werk soche wilde. 1513 Douglas æneis viii. Prol. 22 All is wele done, God wait, weild he his will. |
† b. intr. (for refl.) To occupy oneself, be doing; to act, do, fare (well, etc.); to ‘manage’.
This use does not seem to be continuous with the intr. sense of OE. wealdan ‘to contrive or manage to do something expressed or implied’.
| c 1400 Beryn 1803 Howe shuld o sely lombe, a-mong wolvis weld, And scapen vn-I-harmyd? c 1470 Henry Wallace iv. 339 Now lycht, now sadd; now blisful, now in baill;..Nowe weildand weyle; now calde weddyr, now hett. a 1500 Bernard. de cura rei fam. i. 351 Quham god of mycht bade wald and virke & leffe In wytnes of adame and of eue. 1565 Satir. Poems Reform. i. 407 Rather given whollie to weld w{supt}{suph} the sworde, Then worke that wisdome have firmelie affied. 1581 A. Hall Iliad v. 93 Although he weelded wel in fight. 1613 P. Forbes Comm. Rev. Ep. Ded., The inexpert student, in search of letters weilding amidst infinite variety, is cast in such doubt of choise. |
† 4. trans. To direct the movement or action of, to control; to use, have the use of, as a bodily member or a faculty; to lead, guide, direct; occas. to hold in check; gen. to deal with, have to do with; to deal with successfully, manage. Obs. or dial. exc. as in 5.
Here are included various shades of meaning, lit. and fig.: see also below. In quot. 1530, to inflect grammatically. In OE. const. gen.
| c 888 ælfred Boeth. xxxix. §8 Sio eax welt ealles þæs wænes. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 3093 Hii ne ssolleþ abbe þe leste ston þe wule ich may weld [v.r. wolde] min hond. c 1386 Chaucer Sompn. T. 239 In our Chapitre praye we..To crist þat he thee sende heele and myght Thy body for to weelden. c 1450 Mirk's Festial 196 Then callyd þe norys to þe modyr, and bade hur..helpe hur forto folde þe chyldys cloþis; for scho was to woke, and myght not welde hom. c 1470 Gol. & Gaw. 450 Quhill I may my wit wald, I think my fredome to hald. 1508 Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen 77 Than suld I waill ane..That suld my womanheid weild. 1513 Douglas æneis xii. xii. 129 The wond tarreis Enee sum deyll..To weild hys kne maid sum impedyment. 1530 Palsgr. Ded. A ii b, How to welde hym [sc. a frenche worde], in his cases, gendre, nombres, modes, tenses, and persons. 1555 T. Phaer æneid ii. 529 So sayd she, and gan to welde Hym aged man, and in the sacred seat hym set and helde. 1581 T. Howell Deuises G iii b, Let wisedome welde your wit. 1595 Spenser Col. Clout 130 Loue will not be drawne, but must be ledde, And Bregog did so well her fancie weld, That her good will he got her first to wedde. 1596 ― State Irel. Wks. (Globe) 663/2 According to the quantitye of such land, as euerye man..shalbe founde able to weelde. 1601 Holland Pliny x. iii. I. 272 The very ægles, not able to weld the prey that they have seazed upon, are together with it drawne under the water. 1612 Drayton Poly-olb. ii. 131 Her new-beginning banke her water scarcely weelds. 1633 P. Fletcher Purple Isl. vii. xli, Her daughters..Much pain'd themselves her stumbling feet to weeld. 1650 Fuller Pisgah iii. v. 326 It is no shame for one to admit a partner in that weighty work, which he cannot weild by himself. 1742 Young Nt. Th. ii. 449 Whose mind was..strong to weild all science. 1891 Sheffield Gloss., Suppl., A farmer living at Ashover, in Derbyshire, said to me, ‘There's no farm I could ha' liked better if I could only ha' welded it’. |
† b. refl. in various senses (see above); occas. to conduct oneself, behave. Obs.
| c 1200 Vices & Virtues (1888) 51 He lai alswa ðat child ðe nan god ne cann, ne speken ne mai, ne isien, ne him seluen wealden. 13.. Sir Beues (A.) 368 Whan þow ert of swich elde, Þat þow miȝt þe self wilde, And ert of age. c 1375 Cursor M. 24358 (Fairf.) Þorou mi hert I felde hit stange My-self I muȝt noȝt welde. c 1400 Destr. Troy 8655 His sheld on his shulders shot was behynd, And his brest left bare,..To weld hym more winly þat worthy to lede. 1426 Lydg. De Guil. Pilgr. 20587 Somme be lame, and feble..And somme strong, and gon vp-ryht, And many welde hem sylff ryht wel. c 1430 How Good Wife taught Dau. in Babees Bk. (1868) 46 So wysely thee welde That þy frendys haue Ioy of thee. 1545 T. Raynalde Byrth Mankynde ii. ii. (1552) 60 b, Nether can it welde, or helpe it selfe to come forthe. 1647 Harvey Sch. of Heart vi. iii, The limbs unable are themselves to welld [rime swell'd]. |
† c. To carry (something heavy or requiring effort). Obs.
| c 1205 Lay. 1131 Þa Troinisce men..duden of þan wilden al heora iwilla, to þan scipen wælden [later text to þe sipes ladden so moche so iwolden]. Ibid. 21874 Heo..heore uæx fæire wælden to volde [later text hire her faire al hii totere]. c 1386 Chaucer Monk's T. 272 She wolde kille Leons leopardes and Beres..And in hir Armes weelde hem at hir wille. a 1400–50 Wars Alex. 838 Þan Alexander..Wynnes him vp a wardrere he walt in his handis. 1592 Kyd Sp. Trag. i. iv, I tooke him up, and wound him in mine armes; And welding him unto my priuate tent, There laid him downe. |
† d. To express, utter. Obs. rare.
| 1581 A. Hall Iliad v. 77 To the Gods..he wold not weeld his thought. 1587 A. Day Daphnis & Chloe (1890) 121 The best are mute, And may not weld the greatnes of her praise. 1605 Shakes. Lear i. i. 56 Sir, I loue you more then word can weild ye matter. a 1635 Corbet Poems (1672) 95 Out⁓went the Townsmen all in Starch,..into the Field, Where one a Speech could hardly wield. |
5. To use or handle with skill and effect; to manage, actuate, ply (a weapon, tool, or instrument, now always one held or carried in the hand). (The current sense.)
In OE. const. gen., dat., or instrumental.
| Beowulf 2038 Þenden hie ðam wæpnum wealdan moston. a 1000 Battle of Maldon 83 Þa hwile þe hi wæpna wealdan moston. c 1300 Havelok 1436 Nou ich am up to þat helde Cumen, that ich may wepne welde. 1338 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 23 Sex ȝere was he kyng, with werre weldid þe scheld. 1375 Barbour Bruce xi. 97 He left nane mycht vapnys velde. c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. 2000 Ariadne, He..hath Rovme..To welde an axe or swerde or staffe or knyffe. a 1400–50 Wars Alex. 651 Wele & wiȝtly in were to welden a spere. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. vii. vii. 1304 A childe..Þat wapynnys mycht noucht wichtly waulde. c 1425 Non-Cycle Myst. Plays (1909) 22/82 Worklooms for to work and weeld. 1470–85 Malory Arthur ix. ii. 340 Is there ony of you here that wille take vpon hym to welde this shelde? 1563 P. Whitehorne Onosandro Platon. 74 Muche lesse the slingers can wild their slinges..: being hindered of the Souldiers. 1598 Shakes. Merry W. i. iii. 24 O base hungarian wight: wilt y{supu} the spigot wield? 1603 G. Owen Pembrokeshire (1892) 275 Monstrouse cudgells..as bigge as the partie is well able to wild. 1629 H. Burton Truth's Tri. 251 We can tell better how to weald our owne weapons. 1736 Gray Statius i. 1 Whoe'er the quoit can wield, And furthest send its weight. 1784 Cowper Task iii. 636 Strength may wield the pond'rous spade. 1798 Wordsw. Peter Bell Prol. xxx, A potent wand doth Sorrow wield. 1860 Tyndall Glac. i. xxii. 159 Never wielding my hatchet until my balance was secured. |
b. to wield a or the sceptre (and similar phrases): to exercise supreme authority, to reign or rule (also fig.). Cf. sway v. 8.
| 1593 Shakes. 3 Hen. VI. iv. vi. 73 His Head by nature fram'd to weare a Crowne, His Hand to wield a Scepter. 1595 Daniel Civ. Wars i. xxix, Edward the third being dead, had left this child..The crowne and Scepter of this Realme to wield. 1635 J. Taylor (Water P.) Old, Old Man C 4, How he and 's son th' eighth Henry, here did wield The Scepter. 1809 Syd. Smith Serm. I. 64 Providence..gives to many a man a soul far better than his birth, compelling him to dig with a spade, who had better have wielded a sceptre. 1821 Scott Kenilw. vii, The late prime favourite of England, who wielded her general's staff and controlled her parliaments. 1858 Max Müller Chips (1880) III. i. 28 The intellectual sceptre of Germany was wielded by a new nobility. |
c. To exercise (power, authority, influence).
| 1612 T. Taylor Comm. Titus ii. 9 He forbiddeth them not to exercise rule..ouer their seruants, but only teacheth them after what manner to weld their authoritie. a 1677 Barrow Serm. III. xxii. (R.) To wield power innocently,..for the maintenance of right,..for the suppression of injury,..is a matter of no small skill. 1836 J. Gilbert Chr. Atonem. iv. (1852) 97 Physical power wielded by an omnipotent Being..must overcome every possible obstacle. 1861 Buckle Civiliz. II. vi. 412 Over the inferior order of minds, they still wield great influence. 1868 J. H. Blunt Ref. Ch. Eng. I. 100 Wielding..an authority which he had no just right to wield. 1874 Green Short Hist. i. §6. 53 Dunstan..wielded for sixteen years..the secular and ecclesiastical powers of the realm. |
d. To use after the fashion of a tool or weapon for the performance of something.
| 1601 Sir W. Cornwallis Ess. ii. xlix. Nn 3 b, I am the veriest bungler..that euer welded tongue. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. iii. I. 354 Wielding the strength and representing the dignity of the city of London. 1857 Maurice Mor. & Met. Philos. IV. vii. §13. 343 Wielding the learning of the old times with incomparable facility. 1871 T. R. Jones Anim. Kingd. (ed. 4) 725 The dorsal ribs [of serpents] wielded..by..powerful muscles..perform the office of internal legs. 1882 C. Pebody Engl. Journalism xxiii. 183 A trained soldier wielding a graphic and powerful pen. 1886 A. Weir Hist. Basis Mod. Europe (1889) 588 [The] increasing importance of the middle classes, as they wielded more efficiently capital and machinery. 1918 A. Menzies Calvin 396 Who could wield such scathing invective? |
Hence ˈwielded ppl. a.; also (nonce-wds.) ˈwieldable a., capable of being wielded; † ˈwieldance, the action of wielding.
| 1800 Southey in Robberds Mem. W. Taylor I. 325 As easy and as *wieldable as blank verse. |
| c 1625 Bp. Hall St. Paul's Combat ii. Wks. 1634 II. 451 This spirituall edge shall either turne againe, or (through our weake *weildance) not enter the stubburne and thick hide of obdured hearts. |
| 1842 Tennyson Talking Oak lxvi, May never saw dismember thee, Nor *wielded axe disjoint. |