Obs. Forms: 1 waldend, wealdend, 2 weldende, 2–3 wealdende, 3 walden(de), wealdent, weldent. [OE. waldend, wealdend, subst. form of pres. pple. of waldan, wealdan, to control (see WIELD v.).] A ruler, governor (rare except in periphrases for God).
Beowulf, 17. Him þæs lif-frea, wuldres wealdend, woroldare forʓeaf.
c. 888. Ælfred, Boeth., xvi. 2. Þa sint eowere hlafordas & eowere waldendas, nas ʓe heora.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 75. Scuppende and weldende of heouene and of orðe and of alle iscefte.
c. 1205. Lay., 5059. Nu þu eært londes weldent. Ibid., 25569. Lauerd drihten crist, domes waldende, midelarde mund … walden ænglen, let þu mi sweuen to selþen iturnen.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 1235. Ah þe witti weldent ant te rihtwise bireadde hit swa swiðe wel, ꝥ he ꝥ ouercom mon, were akast þurh mon. Ibid., 2065. Hwerto wultu wreastlin wið þe worldes wealdent?
