Wield Meaning
/wiːld/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo handle with skill and ease, especially a weapon or tool.
verbTo exercise (authority or influence) effectively.
Sentence Examples
It is dangerous to wield an edged tool in such a way.
Do you know how to wield an epee?
CEFR Practice Quiz
After months of training, the soldier could easily ____ a large sword in combat.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
A skilled person should know exactly how to ____ the many various tools in the workshop to avoid any several injuries today.
Word Origin & History
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.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The question isn't whether AI will reshape human society—it's whether its engineers will wield that power thoughtfully."
— 2025 August 27, Dana Suskind, “AI Engineers Need Their Own Hippocratic Oath. Here’s What It Should Say”, in TIME, archived from the original on 30 Aug 2025:
"There was never kyng sauff myselff that welded evir such knyghtes."
— 1470–1485 (date produced), Thomas Malory, “Capitulum 7”, in [Le Morte Darthur], book V, [London: […] by William Caxton], published 31 July 1485, →OCLC; republished as H[einrich] Oskar Sommer, editor, Le Morte Darthur […], London: David Nutt, […], 1889, →OCLC:
"With such his chearefull speaches he doth wield / Her mind so well, that to his will she bends[…]."
— 1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book V, Canto X”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
"All is weill done, God wate, weild he hys will."
— a. 1513, Virgil, “VIII, prologue”, in Gawin Douglas [i.e., Gavin Douglas], transl., edited by [George Dundas], The Æneid of Virgil: Translated into Scottish Verse (Bannatyne Club, Publications; 64, no. 1), volume I, Edinburgh: T. Constable, printer, published 1839, →OCLC, page 448, line 1:
"What boots it if I beat the heathen home,
And fold the mountains in my wield, and fire […]"
— 1872, George Francis Savage-Armstrong, The tragedy of Israel, volume 2, page 64:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
After months of training, the soldier could easily ____ a large sword in combat.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
A skilled person should know exactly how to ____ the many various tools in the workshop to avoid any several injuries today.