Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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.