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.