Wielded

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To possess and exercise control over an object, tool, or weapon while demonstrating skill and influence in managing a situation
2. To effectively manipulate or handle an instrument, tool, or weapon, showcasing both power and authority in its use
3. To carry and handle something such as a weapon or tool confidently, demonstrating command and proficiency

Etymology: Old English had two verbs that lived side by side and meant roughly "to control" or "to rule". One was "wealdan", a strong verb, and the other "wieldan", a weak verb. The two drifted together in Middle English because the past-tense forms became hard to tell apart, so speakers merged them into a single verb, "welden", which is the ancestor of modern "wield". Both trace back to a Germanic root meaning "to rule", so the verb has always carried the idea of holding power over something. The noun it came from, "wield" in the sense of power, control or dominion, is older still in English. It descends from a Proto-Germanic word for power and might. The sense of physically handling something came later, as control over a thing gradually became the same as holding and using it. A sword or a tool is wielded because the wielder has command over it, which is why the verb sounds forceful even when the object is small.

Synonyms: handled, controlled, managed, exerted, manipulated

Antonyms: dropped, discarded, abandoned, neglected, released