| 释义 |
† wieldn.Origin: Probably formed within English, by clipping or shortening. Etymons: English geweald , i-wald n. Etymology: Probably shortened < Old English geweald, gewield i-wald n. Compare (apparently similarly shortened) Old Frisian wald , wold , Middle Dutch wout (early modern Dutch woud ), Old High German, Middle High German (rare) walt , and (with i-mutation: see i-wald n.) Old Frisian weld , wield , Middle Dutch welde , welt , Middle Low German welde . Compare also Old Icelandic vald , Old Swedish vald , (Swedish våld ), Old Danish wold , wald (Danish vold ), and (with i-mutation) Old Icelandic veldi , Old Swedish, Swedish välde , Old Danish welde (Danish vælde ), all of which could reflect the prefixed Germanic base (compare discussion at i-wald n.). Compare ( < a Germanic language) Finnish valta, Estonian wald.While the earliest unprefixed examples of the noun in sense 1a could perhaps show transmission errors for i-wald n. (compare quots. OE, c1155 at sense 1aα. ), the assumption that the unprefixed word was current in Old English is also supported by its attestation in rare concrete senses of i-wald n. such as ‘bridle’ and ‘groin’. Notes on forms. The earliest variants reflect those listed at i-wald n.; some later forms may have been influenced by variants of wield v. (compare the more complex range of forms listed at that entry). The early Middle English form weald partly represents an α. form, and partly (in reflexes of Anglian) a β. form; compare discussion at wield v. (at Forms 1aα. and in the etymology section). Obsolete. 1. the mind > possession > [noun] > possession and control society > authority > control > [noun] > control and possession α. OE tr. Orosius (Tiber.) (Dict. Old Eng. transcript) (1980) iv. xi. 109 Þa Antiochus þæt gehyrde, þa bæd he Scipian friþes, & him his sunu ham onsende, se wæs on his wealde [eOE B.L. Add. gewealde]. c1155 ( Writ of William I, Bath in D. Bates (1998) 129 Ic ann him þæt he beo his sacca worðe.., swa full & swa forð swa æniman fyrmest hafaðe on minan wealde. c1175 (Burchfield transcript) Ded. l. 204 To lesenn mann kinn þurrh hiss dæþ Vt off þe defless walde. a1400 (a1325) (Coll. Phys.) l. 21917 Alle sal we die, bath ginge and alde, Es nan hauis of him seluin walde. 1488 (c1478) Hary (Adv.) (1968–9) xi. l. 579 God that has the warld in wauld. c1580 ( tr. (1921) II. ii. 2130 ‘The King of Grece,’ than said that ald, ‘That maister is and hes in wald, Alexander de Lere.’ the world > action or operation > ability > [noun] > to use or employ ?a1300 (c1250) Prov. Hendyng (Digby) xlvii, in (1881) 4 200 Ȝonge and olde, Þe wiles þey haven here tonge i wolde, Þey seken here soules bote. c1400 (Minn.) (1928) l. 357 (MED) Þai..merualyd..þat so ȝonge a chyld wald..Goddes werkes haue in welde. a1500 (?a1400) (1903) l. 3233 Goo thow, syr lucan de boteler, That wyse wordys haste in wolde. 1908 1 iv. 173 A score o' selkie skins 'at they hed slippit aff tae get a better waald o' their legs i' the dance. society > authority > power > [noun] a1325 (c1250) (1968) l. 2000 To don swilc dede adde he no wold. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 3564 Til vnwelth windes al his wald. c1440 (?a1400) l. 2689 (MED) My schouldire be schrede, and my schelde thyrllede, And the wielde of myne arme werkkes a littill. a1586 King Hart l. 644 in W. A. Craigie (1919) I. 274 All thing ȝe haue wrocht With help of wisdome and his willis wald. the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > prediction, foretelling > interpretation of dreams > [noun] > significance of a dream a1325 (c1250) (1968) l. 2122 If he can rechen ðis dremes wold. c1330 (?c1300) (Auch.) l. 588 Whan it worþ þi fader y-teld Þatow hast mine hert in weld..he wil me sle. ?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng (Petyt) (1996) ii. l. 3972 Vitaile inouh at weld. c1450 (?a1400) (Ashm.) l. 2994 An ymage..Of Sexeres þat sum-quyle þat cite had to ȝ welde [read to welde]. ?1537 Hugh of Caumpedene tr. sig. G.ijv Whan the colers haue al in welde A great keelth in man they yelde. Phrases to owe (also have) a wold (also on wield); (also) to owe (also have) wield. Cf. to have on onwald at onwald n. [Early Middle English awold in the phrases ouen awold , haven awold apparently should be interpreted as continuing Old English on gewealde (in on gewealde habban ; compare on (one's) i-wald at i-wald n. and the Germanic forms cited with that phrase), with phonological reduction of both the preposition (compare a prep.1) and the prefix of the noun; compare to have on wield with direct object in quot. a1225 at Phrases a. This seems more likely than that awold represents a phonologically reduced form of i-wald n. (compare a- prefix2) or onwald n. (compare a- prefix3).] the mind > possession > have or possess [verb (transitive)] > possess and control c1175 ( Homily (Bodl. 343) in S. Irvine (1993) 138 Ðe deofel..his wylles weald on him æhte. a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris (1873) 2nd Ser. 79 Swo holie mihte is þoleburdnesse þat he þe hit kið, þer þurh haueð his soule weald. a1200 (?OE) MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris (1873) 2nd Ser. 205 Bute he forsake alle þe woreld winne þat he weld ahg. a1225 (?c1175) Poema Morale (Digby) clxxxv, in (1878) 1 31 Inoh he haueð, þet hine haueð, þet alle þing haueð on wealde [a1200 Trin. Cambr. alle þing wealdeð]. a1275 (?c1200) (Trin. Cambr.) (1955) 86 Ȝif þu hauest welþe awold. a1325 (c1250) (1968) l. 3412 Al bi ðhusenz ðis folc was told; Ilc ðhusent adde a meister wold. the world > existence and causation > causation > [verb (transitive)] a1325 (c1250) (1968) l. 2054 He herde hem murnen..Harde dremes ogen awold ðat. the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > meaning > meaning of linguistic unit > [noun] a1325 (c1250) (1968) l. 1944 Quat-so his dremes owen a-wold. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2019; most recently modified version published online June 2022). † wieldadj.Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: Ultimately < the same Germanic base as Old English wealdan (see wield v.), with a suffix causing i-mutation (see note). Compare (without i-mutation) Middle High German prefixed gewalt powerful, mighty (compare y- prefix), and also selpwalt self-willed. Perhaps compare also Old Icelandic valdr , predicative adjective, in the sense ‘that is the cause (of a thing)’. Compare unwield adj. and also wieldness n.In Old English the adjective is unambiguously attested only in the comparative (see α. forms). Because of this, it is not entirely certain whether the i-mutation of the stem vowel was originally due to the derivational suffix (ja -stem) or to a variant of the comparative suffix (compare discussion at -er suffix3). A prefixed form without i-mutation is perhaps attested as Old English anweald , in the same sense (compare onwald n.), but all its possible attestations are disputed. A prefixed adjective Old English gewielde (compare y- prefix), derived from the same Germanic base as wield v., is also attested in the sense ‘in the power of, under the control of, subject to’; compare un-i-welde adj. and (without prefix, as second element in a compound) Old English earfoþwielde difficult to subdue. This probably represents an originally independent adjectival formation. Compare Old Icelandic -veldr in auðveldr easy (to accomplish), willing, torveldr difficult, and perhaps also Old Frisian -welde in unwelde (beside unmutated unwalde ) not of one's own will. However, there appears to be mutual influence between the two formations in English, and prefixed Old English gewielde is attested once in the sense ‘strong, powerful’ (in the comparative: see the variant reading in quot. a1225; compare also the different senses of unwield adj.). In Middle English in use in verse sometimes difficult to distinguish from wild adj. Obsolete. society > authority > power > [adjective] eOE tr. Orosius (BL Add.) (1980) iv. i. 84 Hit næs þeaw on þæm tidun þæt mon ænig wæl on þa healfe rimde þe þonne wieldre wæs [L. ex ea parte quae uicerit]. OE Wærferð tr. Gregory (Corpus Cambr.) (1900) iv. xxxvii. 320 Þæt is bedeohlod us..hweþer þa wyldre wære in Stephane & þone sigor ahte. a1225 ( Ælfric's Homily De Duodecim Abusivis (Lamb. 487) in R. Morris (1868) 1st Ser. 105 Þet þe mon beo iþuldi..and lete elchur his iwit weldre [OE Corpus Cambr. 178 gewyldre] þene his wreððe. a1300 in C. Brown (1932) 71 He is..freo of heorte, of wisdom wilde. c1300 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Otho) (1963) l. 1597 Þo wende þe welde-king þat hit were for gyle. c1540 (?a1400) (2002) f. 25 A man witty & wight wildist in armes. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2019; most recently modified version published online December 2020). wieldv. Forms: 1. Present stem. a. Infinitive. α. Old English wældan (rare, chiefly late), Old English wealdan, late Old English weældan (Kentish), early Middle English wealde (rare, in late copies of Old English (West Saxon) sources), early Middle English wialde (south-eastern). For forms interpreted as showing the reflex of i-mutation, such as Old English (Northumbrian) wælda (weak verb), see Forms 1δ. .OE Beowulf (2008) 2038 Þenden hie ðam wæpnum wealdan moston.lOE Writ of Edward the Confessor, Winchester (Sawyer 1154) in F. E. Harmer Anglo-Saxon Writs (1952) 400 For ælre ðere kynga sawle, þe æfter me þyses kynyngriches wældeð.a1225 (?c1175) Poema Morale (Digby) xl, in Anglia (1878) 1 11 He witeð and wialdeð alle þing, he iscop alle seafte. β. Old English waldan, Middle English wald, Middle English walde; Scottish pre-1700 waill, pre-1700 wale, pre-1700 wauld, pre-1700 waulde, pre-1700 1700s– wald, 1700s wiald, 1800s walde; N.E.D. (1924) also records a form pre-1700 valde (Scottish). Sc. National Dict. (at Wald) records this form type as still in use in Orkney in 1973.eOE (Mercian) Vespasian Psalter (1965) lxxxviii. 8 (10) Tu dominaris potestati maris : ðu waldes maehte sæs.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 9958 Þan was þar neuer suilk a hald, Ne nan welier in werld to wald.c1480 (a1400) St. Ninian 1178 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 338 To wauld ȝoure lymmys at ȝour wil.1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1895) II. 102 He..sa weil could wale a sword.1797 Edinb. Mag. Dec. 458 Pate's sae fou he canna wald the bow.1880 W. T. Dennison Orcadian Sketch-bk. 9 Lord gin I wur eeble tae wald hid mesel'.1915 G. Sinclair Poems 63 May..love an' friendship freely wald Around her ingle. γ. Old English wildan, Old English wyldan, Middle English wilde, Middle English wyld, Middle English wylde, 1500s–1600s wild, 1600s willd. Post-Middle English instances may alternatively reflect a late shortening of ζ. forms of the present stem.OE Rule St. Benet (Corpus Cambr.) ii. 11 He sceal mid twyfealdre lare þa wyldan and tyn, þe him underþeodde synt. ▸ a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1865) I. 419 He may no werk soche wilde.c1485 (?a1400) Child Bristow l. 542 in C. Horstmann Altengl. Legenden (1881) 2nd Ser. 321 Y haue no childe, Myn heritage for to wilde.1563 P. Whitehorne tr. Onasander Of Generall Captaine & his Office f. 74 Muche lesse the slingers can wild their slinges..: being hindered of the Souldiers.1602 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor i. iii. 19 O bace gongarian wight, wilt thou the spicket willd [1623 wield]? δ. Old English wælda (Northumbrian, in prefixed forms), Old English weldan (in prefixed forms), early Middle English uelde, early Middle English velde, early Middle English wælde (south-west midlands), early Middle English weldenn ( Ormulum), early Middle English wielde (Oxfordshire), Middle English veyld, Middle English wealde, Middle English weld, Middle English welde, Middle English–1600s weelde, Middle English–1600s weilde, Middle English–1600s weylde, Middle English–1700s weeld, Middle English–1700s weild, 1500s–1600s weald, 1500s–1600s weyld; Scottish pre-1700 veild, pre-1700 velde, pre-1700 weilde, pre-1700 weill, pre-1700 weld, pre-1700 welde, pre-1700 weyld, pre-1700 weylde, pre-1700 (1700s–1800s archaic) weeld, pre-1700 1700s–1800s weild. For forms interpreted as showing the reflex of an unmutated vowel, such as Old English (late West Saxon) wældan (strong verb), see Forms 1α. . In some early Middle English sources, wælde may alternatively belong with β. forms. Early Middle English wielde is to be interpreted as equivalent to a δ. form in quot. a1300.eOE (Kentish) Glosses to Proverbs of Solomon (Vesp. D.vi) in U. Kalbhen Kentische Glossen (2003) 152 Cohibere : geweldan.OE (Northumbrian) Lindisf. Gospels: Mark x. 42 Hi qui uidentur principari gentibus dominantur eis : ðas ðaðe gesene sint þæt hia aldordom [perhaps read aldordomia] hædnum gewældes ðæm uel him.] a1225 (?c1175) Poema Morale (Lamb.) l. 2 in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 159 Ich welde mare þene ich dede.c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 627 & scal þin mære kun wælden þas londes.a1300 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 1 Dai and nicht ich fundie to wendende heonne—wielde Godd an heuene to hwuechere wunne!c1350 (a1333) William of Shoreham Poems (1902) 96 Do ȝe nauȝt so, par charyte, Ac ȝoure tongen ȝe wealde.?c1450 (?a1400) J. Wyclif Eng. Wks. (1880) 369 Þes goodis þat þei welden now.1578 J. Lyly Euphues f. 43v At the firste the Oxe weildeth not the yoke.1633 P. Fletcher Purple Island vii. xli. 95 Her daughters..Much pain'd themselves her stumbling feet to weeld.1742 E. Young Complaint: Night the Second 29 Whose mind was..Strong, to weild all Science.a1823 G. Beattie John O'Arnha (1826) 12 Mine..weilds his gardies; Or, at the warst, his aiken rung. ε. Middle English wold, Middle English wolde. a1300 (c1275) Physiologus (1991) l. 123 If ðu hauest is broken, al ðu forbreðes Forwurdes [emended in ed. to forbredes, Forwurðes] & forȝelues eche lif to wolden.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) l. 22874 Miȝty god þat al woldeþ.a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xxvi. 335 Peasse, I warne you, woldys in wytt [read inwytt]! ζ. late Middle English–1500s wielde, 1500s wyelde, 1500s– wield, 1800s wiel' (Scottish). c1450 (?a1400) Parl. Thre Ages (BL Add. 31042) l. 609 Merlyn..graythen [read graythed] Galyan a boure to kepe hyr þer-in That no wy scholde hir wielde ne wynne.1559 W. Baldwin et al. Myrroure for Magistrates Suffolk ix They were more then we might easely wyelde.1590 C. Marlowe Tamburlaine: 1st Pt. sig. B2v What stature wields he, and what personage.1664 Floddan Field v. 46 Then next the Left-hand wing did wield Sir Marmaduke Constable old.1785 W. Cowper Task iii. 636 Strength may wield the pond'rous spade.1820 P. B. Shelley Cloud in Prometheus Unbound 196 I wield the flail of the lashing hail.1988 S. Tucker Memories Southern Women III. 107 Maum Hannah is an aged woman, but she can still ‘wield an ax’.2018 Irish Times (Nexis) 6 Oct. 27 I re-read that story, to remind myself how to build character, how to wield voice. η. late Middle English wellde, 1500s–1600s weld, 1500s–1600s welde, 1600s welld. c1475 (c1399) Mum & Sothsegger (Cambr. Ll.4.14) (1936) iii. l. 297 Clerkis kne[w] I non..þat so couude rede In bokis..þouȝ ȝe brouȝte alle Þat ony wy welldith.1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement Ded. sig. A iiv How to welde hym [sc. a frenche worde], in his cases, gendre, nombres, modes, tenses, and persons.1591 E. Spenser Ruines of Time in Complaints 14 A broken rod she held, Which towards heauen shee seemd on high to weld.1647 C. Harvey Schola Cordis vi. iii The limbs unable are themselves to welld [rhyme swell'd]. b. Also 3rd singular indicative Old English wilt, Old English–early Middle English south-west midlands wealt, Old English–early Middle English (in prefixed forms) wylt, Old English–Middle English welt, late Old English wyllt (in prefixed forms), early Middle English wald, early Middle English weald, early Middle English weolt, Middle English walt, Middle English weld, Middle English welde (perhaps transmission error), Middle English wylddys. See discussion in etymology. eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) xlix. 377 Hu ne wilt he ðonne hiera deaðes?OE Wulfstan Institutes of Polity (Junius) 148 Wa þam, þe ðæs wealt.a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 181 He [emended in ed. to we] one awlencð alle þe hundlimen, and welt þe sowle.c1330 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) l. 3892 Lord þat woneþ an heye, Þat al þing walt fer & neye.c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. x. l. 83 Þe more he wynneth and welt welthes & ricchesse,..þe lasse good he deleth.c1500 (a1400) Sir Cleges (Ashm.) (1913) l. 56 x ȝere..sych festes þei held Yn worschype of hym, þat all weld. 2. Past tense. α. early Old English wieold, Old English–early Middle English weold, early Middle English wield, Middle English weld, Middle English welt, Middle English welth, late Middle English weled. eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) l. 391 Manigra folca gestreones hie wieoldon.OE Beowulf (2008) 465 Ic..weold folce deninga [read Deniga].OE Death of Alfred (Tiber. B.iv) 4 Þæt ne geþafodon þa þe micel weoldon on þisan lande.a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 169 On alle þe winne þe he erur wield.a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 142 He wex to a werwolf..ac his witt welt he after as wel as to-fore.a1450 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Lamb.) (1887) i. l. 8056 On com þer to my bed..& als a man he me welt. β. Old English welde (in prefixed forms), Old English wilde, Old English wyldde (rare), Old English wylde, late Old English wellde (in prefixed forms), early Middle English velden (plural), Middle English welde, Middle English welte. OE Harley Gloss. (1966) 144 Domuit, i. uicit, mitigauit, wylde.c1200 Serm. in Eng. & Germanic Stud. (1961) 7 63 Heo..velden al heore ofsprung eche deþ to honde.a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 532 Wimmen welten weres mester.c1405 (c1375) G. Chaucer Monk's Tale (Ellesmere) (1872) l. 3200 Adam..welte all Paradys sauynge o tree.c1500 (?a1475) Assembly of Gods (1896) l. 670 Many was the wepyn..þat þey welde. γ. late Old English–early Middle English (in prefixed forms) wealde, early Middle English wælde, Middle English walde, Middle English walt, Middle English wold, Middle English wolde, Middle English wolt, 1700s wall'd (Scottish); N.E.D. (1924) also records a form early Middle English wald. lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1123 Se biscop of Særesbyrig wæs strang & wealde eall Engleland.c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 12043 Na lengere þat lond he ne walde [c1300 Otho wolde].a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 3887 Was neuer man vpon mold þat swiche miȝt walt.c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 485 Wyth wele walt þay þat day.1790 J. Fisher Poems Var. Subj. 149 She made it [sc. a clue of yarn] stot, An' wall'd sae well her arm. δ. Middle English weeldede, Middle English weeldid, Middle English weeldide, Middle English weldede, Middle English weldide, Middle English weldit, Middle English wildid, Middle English–1500s weldid, Middle English–1600s welded, 1500s–1600s weelded, 1500s–1600s weilded, 1500s– wielded; also Scottish pre-1700 weeldide, pre-1700 weeldit, pre-1700 weildit. c1350 Psalter (BL Add. 17376) in K. D. Bülbring Earliest Compl. Eng. Prose Psalter (1891) cxxxviii. 12 Þou weldedest mie reines.c1450 (?a1400) Quatrefoil of Love (BL Add.) (1935) l. 264 He tuk an harpe in his hande and weldide it.1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. iii. sig. C7v He was strong, and of so mightie corse, As euer wielded speare in warlike hand.1601 W. Cornwallis Ess. II. l. sig. Nn3v I am the veriest bungler..that euer welded tongue.1781 C. Johnstone Hist. John Juniper II. 1 One of the keenest wits who ever wielded grey-goose quill.1838 G. P. R. James Life & Times Louis XIV III. iii. 89 Boileau too wielded his satirical pen.1936 Jrnl. Eng. Folk Dance & Song Soc. 3 37 He wielded a staff..with which he smote upon the shield.2000 C. Warren Brush with Death vi. 107 Company doctors..wielded increasing power over factory conditions. 3. Past participle. α. Old English gewalden, Old English gewealden, late Old English gewealn- (inflected form), Middle English welden. OE Beowulf (2008) 1732 Gedeð him swa gewealdene worolde dælas.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) l. 13821 Eiȝte & þritty ȝeer in bonde Haue I not welden foot ny honde. β. Old English geweld, Old English gewild, Old English gewyld, Old English wyld, Old English wyldd- (inflected form, rare), Old English 1500s weld, early Middle English iwald, early Middle English iwealde, early Middle English iweld, early Middle English iwelt, early Middle English wealt, Middle English welt, Middle English wold, 1500s welde; Scottish pre-1700 waild. OE Tiberius Psalter xviii. 14 Si mei non fuerint dominati : gif min hi ne beoð wylde.a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 45 Þurh mannes gemeleste..and naht bi his agene wille..deað him wes iwealde.a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 526 Ðor is writen quat agte awold Dat ðis werld was watre wold.1543 ( Chron. J. Hardyng (1812) 367 The which the duke of Burgoyn wold haue weld. γ. Middle English weeldid, Middle English weldid, Middle English weldyde, Middle English–1600s weelded, 1500s– wielded, 1600s weilded, Middle English–1600s (1800s English regional) welded; Scottish pre-1700 valdit, pre-1700 wailit, pre-1700 weildit. ▸ a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1961) Num. xxi. 24 Hys loond ys weelded from arnon vnto Iebboth.a1500 (c1340) R. Rolle Psalter (Univ. Oxf. 64) (1884) xv. §7. 53 Thurgh the whilke the heritage of heuen may be sene and weldid.1576 G. Pettie Petite Pallace 60 Those who haue wielded far more waightie empires then [sic] this without hazarding them selues any way.1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory iii. vii. 321/2 The Hand Hammer..may be welded..with one hand.1750 S. Johnson Rambler No. 82. ⁋10 A Scymitar once wielded by a Soldier.1891 S. O. Addy Suppl. Gloss. Words Sheffield 63 If I could only ha' welded it.1987 A. Nickon & E. F. Silversmith Org. Chem.: Name Game xix. 267 Ockham's Razor (like its steel namesake) must be wielded cautiously.2017 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 30 Nov. c4 She uses her artfully displayed legs as a contemptuously wielded weapon. Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: A merging of two distinct but closely related verbs: (i) an Old English strong verb of Class VII (West Saxon wealdan , Anglian waldan ; compare Forms 1α. and β. , respectively), cognate with Old Frisian walda , Old Dutch walden (Middle Dutch, Dutch wouden ), Old Saxon waldan , Old High German waltan (Middle High German, German walten , now inflected weakly), Old Icelandic valda , Old Swedish valda (Swedish vålla ), Old Danish wolde (Danish volde ), Gothic waldan ; (ii) an Old English weak verb of Class I (early West Saxon wieldan , Anglian wældan ; compare Forms 1γ. and δ. , respectively) < the same Germanic base as Old English wealdan , etc., with a suffix causing i-mutation (compare i-wald n. and wield n. and the discussion of i-mutated stem forms at those entries; compare also wield adj.); perhaps compare early modern Dutch welden (1665 in an apparently isolated attestation), although this is more likely to be a later formation from the noun. The Germanic base of the strong verb is in turn < the same Indo-European base as Old Church Slavonic vlasti , vladěti to rule, Old Prussian weldīsnan (accusative) inheritance, wāldnikans (accusative plural) kings, Lithuanian valdyti to rule, veldėti to inherit, all reflecting an extended form (with dental suffix) of the base of classical Latin valēre to be strong (compare valent adj.), Gaulish -valos (in personal names), Welsh †gwâl leader, ruler, Tocharian A wäl , Tocharian B walo king, ruler, and perhaps also (with nasal suffix) Early Irish follnathir rules, reigns. Compare i-welde v. and also waldin adj.Inflection history. The Germanic verb apparently originally inflected as a strong verb of Class VII, as reflected by Old English wealdan , (Anglian) waldan and the early stages of the other West Germanic languages. However, Old Icelandic has a suppletive paradigm with the present tense and past participle as expected for a Class VII verb, but with a divergent past tense olla , ultimately < an ablaut variant (probably zero-grade) of the same Germanic base. (The inflection in Gothic is unclear, as only forms in the present tense survive.) In the West Germanic languages the respective strong verbs began to develop into weak verbs, sometimes from an early date (e.g. in Middle Dutch), especially as the final dental of the base could make strong and weak past tense forms difficult to distinguish in later stages of these languages. In English this development was reinforced by the weak verb Old English wieldan , (Anglian) wældan , which merged with the strong verb in the course of the Middle English period, as the weak and strong forms of the past tense became increasingly difficult to distinguish (see Forms 2α. , 2β. , and 2γ. , and the discussion below). Variant forms. The present stem of the strong verb is chiefly continued in Middle English by reflexes of its Anglian form waldan : Middle English wālde , wǭlde (Forms 1β. and ε. ). Already in Old English the two verbs are often formally impossible to distinguish in the forms of the 2nd and 3rd singular present indicative, where the strong verb (in contracted forms in West Saxon) shows i-mutation of the stem vowel. Semantically, there is also overlap, although the weak verb predominates in sense 1c. In the past tense the stem-final dental often makes the reflexes of strong forms and weak forms (Forms 2α. and 2β. ) difficult to distinguish in Middle English, especially in the plural and subjunctive. Modern standard English wield (see Forms 1ζ. ) continues the early Middle English present stem wēlde (see Forms 1δ. ). Middle English wēlde chiefly represents the non-West Saxon reflex of the i-mutated stem of the weak verb (with lengthening of the vowel before the homorganic consonant group -ld- ), although lengthened forms of the West Saxon present stem of the strong verb have merged with these. Old English. Prefixed forms with y- prefix are attested in Old English both for the strong verb (gewealdan ) and the weak verb (gewieldan ): see i-welde v. and the discussion of forms at that entry. Prefixed finite forms are comparatively frequent for the strong verb, while for the weak verb, prefixed forms are more frequent than those of the unprefixed verb. It is unclear whether Old English and Middle English prefixed forms of the past participle represent the prefixed or the unprefixed verb, i.e. wield v. or i-welde v., as formally they may belong to either. For this reason all Old English and Middle English prefixed past participle forms have been repeated in the Forms sections of both entries. Compare also the following prefixed verbs in Old English: (strong) onwealdan onwald v., oferwealdan overwield v., and (weak) bewyldan to have power over (in isolated attestation; compare be- prefix). Compare also aweld v. †1. society > authority > rule or government > rule or govern [verb (transitive)] OE 35 Hringweald wæs haten Herefarena cyning. Offa weold Ongle, Alewih Denum. OE (Junius) 5 Sy þe wuldor and lof wide geopenod.., swa ðu wealdan miht eall eorðan mægen and uplyfte, wind and wolcna. c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 8159 Himm he ȝaff þatt crune. To weldenn all hiss kine dom. a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris (1868) 1st Ser. 153 To fihten..to-ȝeines þa awariede gastes þet weldeð þosternesse [L. rectores tenebrarum]. a1325 (c1250) (1968) l. 840 Ðe kinges welten burges ðoa. a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng (Harl.) l. 9891 God almyȝty, þat al þyng weldes. a1470 T. Malory (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 217 There was never kyng sauff myselff that welded evir such knyghtes. a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil (1957) i. v. 81 Romulus sal the pepill ressaue and weld. 1633 Bp. J. Hall i. 131 I, and my familie have not taken that allowance which was appointed for the governour; so as, though I weilded the place, yet I forbore to take the maintenance allotted unto it. society > authority > rule or government > rule or govern [verb (intransitive)] society > authority > power > influence > have influence [verb (intransitive)] > have controlling or prevailing influence OE Aldhelm Glosses (Brussels 1650) in L. Goossens (1974) 444 Imperantibus [augustis Valeriano et Gallieno] : wealdendvm [altered from wealdedon]. c1225 (?c1200) (Royal) (1981) l. 8 Maxence..fleh into alixaundre. Constantin walde efter. a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1965) 3 Esdras iv. 38 Trewþe..lyueþ & weldeþ in to worldis of worldis. a1450 2270 Vilfulnes and mysknawleg Ay wodly weildand. 1592 (?a1425) (BL Add.) (1843) I. 98 As was from the begininge, And never shall have endinge, From worlde to worlde aye weildinge [1591 Huntington wendinge, 1600 Harl. 2013 weldinge], Amen! God of mighte moste. society > authority > subjection > subjecting or subjugation > subject [verb (transitive)] OE (1966) 144 Domuit, i. uicit, mitigauit, wylde. a1200 (?OE) MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris (1873) 2nd Ser. 191 Ðus fliteð þe fiend wið alle men and to fele þer-of walt to his wille. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1963) l. 948 Heo weoren ræde & hehliche wenden heora eiþer wilnada oðer to wælden..mid wunderliche strengðen. a1325 (c1250) (1968) l. 526 Ðor is writen quat agte awold Ðat ðis werld was watre wold. c1400 Comm. on Canticles (Bodl. 288) in T. Arnold (1871) III. 22 (MED) Þei ben endurid in her unskilful errour til eendelees deeþ weelde hem. †2. the mind > possession > have or possess [verb (transitive)] > possess and control the mind > possession > acquisition > obtain or acquire [verb (transitive)] eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory (Hatton) (1871) l. 391 Manigra folca gestreones hie wieoldon. a1170 ( Writ of Edward the Confessor, Abingdon (Sawyer 1066) in S. E. Kelly (2001) 574 Ic cyðe eow þæt Ordric abbud & eal þæt hired on Abbendunes mynstre be minre unne & gife frigelice habban & wealdan Hornemeres hundred on hyre agenre andwealde. ?c1225 (?a1200) (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 284 [Christ] wrot wið hisachne blod. Saluz to his leofmon luue gretung for to..hire luue welden. a1375 (c1350) (1867) l. 144 He wex to a werwolf..ac his witt welt he after as wel as to-fore. c1400 (c1378) W. Langland (Laud 581) (1869) B. x. l. 83 Þe more he wynneth and welt welthes & ricchesse,..þe lasse good he deleth. c1485 (?a1400) Child Bristow l. 542 in C. Horstmann (1881) 2nd Ser. 321 Y haue no childe, Myn heritage for to wilde. 1590 C. Marlowe sig. B2v What stature wields he, and what personage. 1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch 510 They..would never be able with wisdom and moderation to weld any great prosperitie [τὰς εὐπραγίας..ϕέρειν]. 1790 A. Tait 293 Wi' you I'll not marry, ye old rummelgarie, A yankie that's young I will weild. the mind > emotion > [verb (transitive)] > feel an emotion the mind > emotion > suffering > suffer mental pain [verb (transitive)] the world > action or operation > operation upon something > have effect on [verb (transitive)] > be subjected to or undergo an action > undergo or experience the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > experience > [verb (transitive)] the mind > emotion > calmness > patience > endure patiently [verb (transitive)] > bear with or tolerate a1375 (c1350) (1867) l. 2990 So gret wonder walt þe quen of þe worþ bestes. c1390 in F. J. Furnivall (1901) ii. 621 Weopyng and wo I walt. c1440 in G. G. Perry (1914) 88 Wele or wa, ane of þase twa, To welde with-owtten ende. 1533 T. More iv. p. cxlii God..suffereth you not to be tempted aboue yt that ye maye bere, but maketh wyth the temptacyon a way out also, that ye maye well weild yt. 1578 J. Lyly f. 43v At the firste the Oxe weildeth not the yoke nor the Colte the snaffle,..yet time causeth the one to bende his necke, [etc.]. †3. the world > existence and causation > causation > [verb (transitive)] the world > action or operation > carrying out > execute, perform, or carry out [verb (transitive)] eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory (Hatton) (1871) xlix. 377 Gif hwelc folc bið mid hungre geswenced, & hwa his hwæte gehyt & oðhielt, hu ne wilt he ðonne hiera deaðes? OE Wulfstan (Junius) 148 Cyricþenas syndon..munde gewelhwær bedælde. And wa þam, þe ðæs wealt, þeh he swa ne wene. a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris (1873) 2nd Ser. 45 Þurh mannes gemeleste..and naht bi his agene wille..deað him wes iwealde. a1300 in R. Morris (1872) 101 [B]idde we alle þen heye kyng þat welde schal þe laste dom. a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden (St. John's Cambr.) (1865) I. 419 He may no werk soche wilde. c1400 (?c1380) l. 812 For synne he set hymself in vayn, Þat neuer hade non hymself to wolde. 1513 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil viii. Prol. 22 All is wele done, God wait, weild he his will. 1572 (a1500) (1882) 968 He thocht him richt worthie to byde in his steid, For to weild that worschip. OE (Nero) ii. xlv. 342 Gyf man wealdan mæge, ne dyde man æfre on Sunnandæges freolse ænigne forwyrhtne man, butan he fleo. OE (Junius) ix. 478 Þy sculon bisceopas mid worulddeman domas dihtan, þæt hi ne geþafian, gyf his waldan magan, þæt ðær ænig unriht up aspringe. lOE (Corpus Cambr.) iv. 453 Gyme ægðer ge ðæs selran ge þæs sæmran, þæt naðor ne misfare, gyf he wealdan mæge, ne corn ne sceaf. the world > action or operation > doing > a proceeding > proceed or carry on an action [verb (intransitive)] > get on well or badly c1384 (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Dan. xi. 32 The peple witynge her God shal weelde, and do. c1460 (?c1400) l. 1803 Howe shuld o sely lombe, a-mong wolvis weld, And scape [emended in ed. to scapen] vn-I-harmyd? a1500 351 Quham god of mycht bade wald and virke & leffe In wytnes of adame and of eue. 1565 in J. Cranstoun (1891) I. i. 17 Rather given whollie to weld wth the sworde, Then worke that wisdome have firmelie affied. 1581 A. Hall tr. Homer v. 93 Although he weelded wel in fight. 4. society > authority > control > [verb (transitive)] society > authority > control > [verb (transitive)] > guide the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > use or make use of [verb (transitive)] > have for use the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > occupy or engage (a person) [verb (transitive)] > conduct (an affair) > deal with (a matter) eOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius (Otho) (2009) I. xxix. 522 Sio eax welt ealles þæs wænes. a1325 in C. Brown (1924) 31 Marie..bringe me to þat heye kyng þat weldeþ sune & mone. 1558 T. Phaer tr. Virgil ii. 529 So sayd she, and gan to welde Hym aged man, and in the sacred seat hym set and helde. 1595 E. Spenser sig. B Loue will not be drawne, but must be ledde, And Bregog did so well her fancie weld, That her good will he got her first to wedde. 1612 M. Drayton ii. 26 Her new-beginning banke her water scarcely weelds. the world > action or operation > behaviour > behave or conduct oneself [verb (reflexive)] the world > movement > bodily movement > move body or members [verb (reflexive)] > use one's limbs the world > life > the body > structural parts > muscle > [verb (transitive)] > control one's movement OE (Corpus Cambr. 190) 183 heading Be cnihtum and be mædenum on hwylcere yldo hi moton hyra sylfra wealdan. a1225 (c1200) (1888) 51 He lai alswa ðat child ðe nan god ne cann, ne speken ne mai, ne isien, ne him seluen wealden. c1330 (?c1300) (Auch.) l. 368 Whan þow ert of swich elde, Þat þow miȝt þe self wilde, And ert of age. a1400 (a1325) (Fairf. 14) l. 24358 Þorou mi hert I felde hit stange my-self I muȝt noȝt welde. a1475 (?a1430) J. Lydgate tr. G. Deguileville (Vitell.) l. 20587 Somme be lame, and feble..And somme strong, and gon vp-ryht, And many welde hem sylff ryht wel. c1500 How Good Wijf (Trin. Cambr. R.3.19) in (2002) i. 46 So wysely thee welde That þy frendys haue Ioy of thee. 1540 R. Jonas tr. E. Roesslin i. f. xvv Nother can it weld or helpe it self to come forth. 1647 C. Harvey vi. iii The limbs unable are themselves to welld [rhyme swell'd]. the world > movement > transference > [verb (transitive)] > convey or transport > carry > something heavy c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1963) l. 568 Þa Troinisce men..duden of þan wilden al heora iwilla, to þan scipen wælden [perhaps read to þan scipen lædden swa muche swa heo wælden; c1300 Otho to þe sipes ladden so moche so iwolden]. c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 264 She wolde kille Leons Leopardes and Beres..And in hir Armes welde hem at hir wille. c1450 (?a1400) (Ashm.) l. 838 Þan Alexander..Wynnes him vp a wardrere he walt in his handis. 1592 T. Kyd i. sig. B4 I tooke him vp and wound him in mine armes. And welding him vnto my priuate tent, There laid him downe. OE 46 Hond bið gelæred, wis ond gewealden, swa bið wyrhtan ryht, sele asettan.] c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) l. 3093 Hii ne ssolleþ abbe þe leste ston þe wule ich may weld [c1425 Harl. wolde] min hond. c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 239 [In o]ure chapitre praye we..To crist that he thee sende heele and myght Thy body for to welden. a1450 (1885) 212 (MED) Wele wer þam þat…Might welde þer lymmes withouten striffe. 1508 (Chepman & Myllar) sig. biiv Quhill I may my wit wald, I think my fredome to hald. 1754 J. Burgh ii. iii. 123 It is evidently of advantage, that a young gentleman be, from his infancy almost, put into the way of wielding his limbs decently. 1823 J. Kennedy 28 Our curlers keen their bodies wield For pies and drink. 1987 21 332 Some subjects have..the idea of a body which is special to them, a body which is significantly connected to their experience..a body which it seems to them they can wield in certain ways which are apparently dependent upon their will. the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > be occupied or busy (in or at something) [verb (intransitive)] > conduct affairs > deal with a matter > competently the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > morphology > inflection > inflect [verb (transitive)] a1500 (?a1390) J. Mirk (Gough) (1905) 196 Then callyd þe norys to þe modyr, and bade hur..helpe hur forto folde þe chyldys cloþis; for scho was to woke, and myght not welde hom. 1530 J. Palsgrave Ded. sig. A iiv How to welde hym [sc. a frenche worde], in his cases, gendre, nombres, modes, tenses, and persons. 1650 T. Fuller iii. 326 It is no shame for one to admit a partner in that weighty work, which he cannot weild by himself. 1742 E. Young 29 Whose mind was..Strong, to weild all Science. 1891 S. O. Addy 63 A farmer living at Ashover, in Derbyshire, said to me, ‘There's no farm I could ha' liked better if I could only ha' welded it’. 1905 J. K. Snowden in VI. at Wield An old Yorkshireman from Airedale was talking of a poaching affray in which a man ran away when he was in a position of advantage, though set upon by two antagonists. ‘He could 'a' wielded both on 'em, easy’. the mind > language > speech > speak, say, or utter [verb (transitive)] 1581 A. Hall tr. Homer v. 77 To the Gods..he wold not weeld his thought. 1587 A. Day sig. M1 The best are mute, And may not weld the greatnes of her praise. 1608 W. Shakespeare i. 50 Sir I do loue you more then words can weild the matter. View more context for this quotation a1635 R. Corbet (1672) 95 Outwent the Townsmen all in Starch,..into the Field, Where one a Speech could hardly wield. 1855 J. Miller Let. 5 Sept. in T. E. Buckley et al. (2000) 375 He wielded the matter of my marriage much more severely & pertinaciously than I expected. 2008 J. H. Anderson 195 Goneril's words not only fail to wield the matter of love but wield instead its absence. 5. (Now the usual sense.) society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > use or wield (a weapon) [verb (transitive)] the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > use or control > [verb (transitive)] OE (2008) 2038 Þenden hie ðam wæpnum wealdan moston. c1384 (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 1 Thess. iv. 4 This is the wille of God..that ȝe absteyne ȝou fro fornycacioun. That ech of ȝou kunne welde his vessel in..hoolynesse..not in passioun of desyr. a1470 T. Malory (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) II. 461 Is there here ony of you that woll take uppon you to welde this shylde? 1563 P. Whitehorne tr. Onasander f. 74 Muche lesse the slingers can wild their slinges..: being hindered of the Souldiers. 1603 G. Owen (1892) 275 Monstrouse cudgells..as bigge as the partie is well able to wild. 1736 (?c1450) Noah's Ark in N. Davis (1970) 21 Worklooms for to work and weeld. 1860 J. Tyndall i. xxii. 159 Never wielding my hatchet until my balance was secured. 1915 26 Apr. 12/5 About twenty men have been wielding racquets on the practice courts the last few weeks, and the tourney will have a heavy entry list. 1971 22 Jan. 14/3 Aspirants..would be well-advised to practise the art of conversing while wielding wine glass and loaded plate. 2018 (Nexis) 9 Oct. 22 Often you'll need to contend with an array of thugs wielding shields, stun batons, small arms and more exotic weaponry. society > authority > [verb (transitive)] the world > action or operation > doing > practice, exercise, or doing > practise or carry on [verb (transitive)] > exercise dominion, jurisdiction, etc. eOE tr. Orosius (BL Add.) (1980) iii. xi. 80 Cassander hie het þær besittan; & him ealles þæs anwaldes weold Mæcedonia rices. 1592 A. Munday tr. L. T. A. sig. Q2 In furie they reiect and throwe off the yoke of obedience to the King, Superiours and Magistrates, themselues weilding and managing the highest authoritie. 1861 H. T. Buckle II. vi. 412 Over the inferior order of minds, they still wield great influence. 1956 28 Jan. 669/1 Tying agreements..may therefore be ruled illegal after a relatively narrow enquiry to establish that the seller is wielding ‘monopolistic leverage’. 2018 (Nexis) 8 Dec. 19 Agents in the modern game wield far too much power over their players and the sport. the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > use or make use of [verb (transitive)] 1601 W. Cornwallis II. l. sig. Nn3v I am the veriest bungler..that euer welded tongue. 1775 P. Duigenan 62 She sends him forth to wield the grey-goose pen, And scourge the publick deeds of publick men. 1862 F. D. Maurice vii. §13. 343 Wielding the learning of the old times with incomparable facility. 1886 A. Weir xv. 588 The rapidly increasing importance of the middle classes, as they wielded more efficiently capital and machinery. 1918 A. Menzies 396 Who could wield such scathing invective? 2009 9 Nov. 86/2 Turning to McGregor and wielding the famous ‘sparkly eyes’ technique, as taught to super-spies, without a smirk. society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > action or fact of marrying > marry [verb (transitive)] c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1963) l. 99 Feour winter he heuede þat wif mid wrðscipe to welden. c1300 (?c1225) (Cambr.) (1901) l. 308 Þu schalt þi trewþe pliȝte..Me to spuse holde, & ihc þe lord to wolde. a1375 (c1350) (1867) l. 856 Lever hire were have welt him at wille þan of þe world be quene; so fair…þe frek was. a1470 T. Malory (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 359 My lorde, sir Gareth, ys to me more lever to have and welde as my husbonde than ony kyng. 1572 (a1500) (1882) 928 Wed ane worthie to wyfe, and weild her with win. PhrasesOE 268 Oft we ofersegon bi sæm tweonum þeoda þeawas, þræce modigra, þara þe in gelimpe life weoldon. a1375 (c1350) (1867) l. 1645 Þer nys lord..þat þe liif weldes..þat soþli nere simple i-nouȝ þat semly to have. society > authority > rule or government > sole rule > rule as monarch [verb (intransitive)] 1567 G. Turberville f. 140v Not to excell in seate or wield the Regall Mace, Or Scepter in such stately sort as might commende the place. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iv. vii. 73 His Head by nature fram'd to weare a Crowne, His Hand to wield a Scepter . View more context for this quotation 1821 W. Scott I. vii. 164 The late prime favourite of England, who wielded her general's staff and controuled her parliaments. 1858 F. M. Müller p. xxvi The intellectual sceptre of Germany was wielded by a new nobility. 2018 (Nexis) 17 Feb. (Ontario ed.) a20 A longtime sovereign-in-waiting now bent on wielding his sceptre. Derivatives (In sense 5.) the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > use or control > [adjective] > used or controlled 1805 Mar. 207 Does the great Emp'ror think..that I tremble at the ermin'd vest, The wielded sceptre, and the starry breast? 1956 22 June 377/3 It is the Spirit of God rather than humanly wielded authority that is the principle of unity. 2003 D. N. Nelson in M. N. Dedaić & D. N. Nelson 449 After war, the deftly wielded pen can rewrite history such that victory arises from defeat. the world > action or operation > advantage > convenience > [adjective] > easily managed a1688 J. Bunyan (1689) 148 I will make your Heart sensible, soft, wieldable, governable and penitent. 1733 J. Swift Let. 31 Mar. in G. Sherburn (1956) III. 362 All your things came over quickly, and are immediately printed, in tolerable wealdable volumes, not your monstrous twelvepenny folio. 1800 R. Southey in J. W. Robberds (1843) I. 325 As easy and as wieldable as blank verse. 2013 (Nexis) 4 Jan. 2 The internet was a tool wieldable by humble bands to make their mark without the need for record labels. the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > use or control > [noun] 1634 Bp. J. Hall (STC 12640.5) i. 451 This spirituall edge shall either turne againe, or (through our weake weildance) not enter the stubburne and thick hide of obdured hearts. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2019; most recently modified version published online June 2022). < |
