Wield v. t. [imp. & p. p. Wielded; p. pr. & vb. n. Wielding.]
  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.
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