Held and used a weapon or tool with control, or exercised power or influence over something.
From Old English 'weldan' meaning 'to control' or 'govern.' The term originally meant to have command or authority, and later specifically referred to holding and using weapons or tools.
When we say someone 'wielded power,' we're using the exact same word as holding a sword—language treats controlling power and controlling a weapon as the same action, which tells us a lot about how societies view authority!
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