wealdan

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *waldan. Cognate with Old Saxon waldan, Old High German waltan (German walten), Old Norse valda (Swedish vålla), Gothic 𐍅𐌰𐌻𐌳𐌰𐌽 (waldan).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈwæ͜ɑl.dɑn/, [ˈwæ͜ɑɫ.dɑn]

Verb

wealdan

1. to control (+ genitive, dative, or instrumental)

   Sē wielt tōweardnesse þe forðġewitennesse wielt. Sē wielt forðġewitennesse þe andweardnesse wielt.

   Whoever controls the past controls the future. Whoever controls the present controls the past.

2. to wield (e.g. a sword) (+ genitive, dative, or instrumental)
3. to rule (+ genitive, dative, or accusative)
   • c. 1000 AD Bēowulf, ll. 2389-90:

     lēt þone bregustol Bēowulf healdan, / Ġēatum wealdan· þæt wæs gōd cyning.

     the throne he let Beowulf hold, / to rule the Geats; that was a good king.

Conjugation

Conjugation of wealdan (strong class 7)

infinitive	wealdan	wealdenne
indicative mood	present tense	past tense
first person singular	wealde	wēold
second person singular	wielst, wieltst	wēolde
third person singular	wielt	wēold
plural	wealdaþ	wēoldon
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	wealde	wēolde
plural	wealden	wēolden
imperative
singular	weald
plural	wealdaþ
participle	present	past
	wealdende	(ġe)wealden

Derived terms

• wealdende (“powerful”)

Descendants

• Middle English: welden, weld, welde, weldon, wielde, wild, wilde, wold, wolde, wolden, weld, welde, weild, weilde, veild (northwest Midlands), weild, weilde, veild, wald, walde (Northern), walden, wælden (early southwest Midlands), wald, walde, wealde, wealden, uelden (Early Middle English)
  • English: wield, English: wald
  • Scots: wield, Scots: wald