An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/walten

by Friedrich Kluge

walten, vb., ‘to dispose, manage, govern,’ from the equiv. MidHG. walten, OHG. waltan, str. vb.; corresponding to OSax. and Goth. waldan, OIc. valda, AS. wealdan, gewyldan, E. to wield. Teut. waldan (from pre-Teut. waltá-) has a t which properly belonged to the present stem, but was afterwards attached to the verbal stem; comp. the OIc. pret. olla, from a Teut. base *wol-þô-m, ‘I governed.’ The root wal is also indicated by Lat. valere, ‘to be strong,’ as well as OIr. flaith, ‘dominion.’ The allied Slav. words seem to have been borrowed at an early period from Teut.; comp. OSlov. vlada (vlasti) and Lith. valdýti, ‘to govern,’ valadóvas, ‘ruler,’ pavilděti, ‘to possess,’ velděti, ‘to acquire.’