conj. Obs. rare. [OE. weald, perh. derived from a use of weald imper. of wealdan to govern (see WIELD v.).
A transitional use is seen in weald hú = lóca hú ‘however’ (Andreas, 1355): see LOOK v. 4 b.]
Followed by or with ellipsis of if: In case that. (In OE. chiefly with þéah or indef. pronoun.)
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., I. 316. Namon ða to ræde, þæt him wærlicor wære, þæt hi sumne dæl heora landes wurðes æthæfdon, weald [? hwæt omitted] him ʓetimode. Ibid., II. 340. Nyte ʓe ða micclan deopnysse Godes ʓerynu? weald þeah him beo alyfed ʓyt behreowsung.
c. 1315. Shoreham, Poems, i. 930–1. To schryue hym wanne he seneȝed heþ Wel syker þing hyt were … Wald ȝef he sodeynlyche deiþ And wald he hyt forȝete.
