WIELD
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wield¹
- /wiːld/
Sounds like wealed, Weald, weald, wheeled (wine–whine merger) · Rhymes with -iːld
Where it comes from
From Middle English welden, from the merger of Old English wealdan (“to control, rule”) (strong class 7) and Old English wieldan (“to control, subdue”) (weak). Both verbs derive from Proto-West Germanic *waldan and *waldijan, respectively; and are ultimately from Proto-Germanic *waldaną (“to rule”).
The reason for the merger was that in Middle English the -d in the stem made it hard to distinguish between strong and weak forms in the past tense.
verb wields · wielding · wielded
- To handle with skill and ease, especially a weapon or tool.
- To exercise (authority or influence) effectively. The question isn't whether AI will reshape human society—it's whether its engineers will wield that power thoughtfully.
- To command, rule over; to possess or own. There was never kyng sauff myselff that welded evir such knyghtes. There was never a king other than myself who ever commanded such knights.
- To control, to guide or manage. With such his chearefull speaches he doth wield / Her mind so well, that to his will she bends[…].
- To carry out, to bring about. All is weill done, God wate, weild he hys will.
wield²
- /wiːld/
Sounds like wealed, Weald, weald, wheeled (wine–whine merger) · Rhymes with -iːld
Where it comes from
From Middle English welde, from Old English *wield, ġewield (“power, control, dominion”), from Proto-West Germanic *waldi, from Proto-Germanic *waldiz (“power, might, control”).
noun wields · welde · weild · weelde
- Rule, command; power, control, wielding. What boots it if I beat the heathen home, And fold the mountains in my wield, and fire […]
WIELD³
proper noun
- Acronym of Western Institute for Endangered Language Documentation.Western Institute for Endangered Language Documentation
