Meaning
To handle with skill and ease, especially a weapon or tool.
Etymology
Origin: Old English
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.
Synonyms & Antonyms
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 2 recorded puzzles: