Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Language: Old English
Origin: wieldan

wield

 verb
     
wield [transitive]
1

wield power/influence/authority etc

to have a lot of power or influence, and to use it:
The Church wields immense power in Ireland.
2 to hold a weapon or tool that you are going to use:
She had her car windows smashed by a gang wielding baseball bats.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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