Govern

• POS: Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: gov=ern

CIDE DICTIONARY

Govern, v. t. [OF. governer, F. gouverner, fr. L. gubernare to steer, pilot, govern, Gr. kyberna^n. Cf. Gubernatorial.].

•  To direct and control, as the actions or conduct of men, either by established laws or by arbitrary will; to regulate by authority.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]
•  To regulate; to influence; to direct; to restrain; to manage; as, to govern the life; to govern a horse.  [1913 Webster]

  "Govern well thy appetite."  [1913 Webster]
•  To require to be in a particular case; as, a transitive verb governs a noun in the objective case; or to require (a particular case); as, a transitive verb governs the objective case.  [1913 Webster]

Govern, v. i. 

 To exercise authority; to administer the laws; to have the control.  Dryden.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Govern, v.
1 a tr. rule or control (a State, subject, etc.) with authority; conduct the policy and affairs of (an organization etc.). b intr. be in government.
2 a tr. influence or determine (a person or a course of action). b intr. be the predominating influence.
3 tr. be a standard or principle for; constitute a law for; serve to decide (a case).
4 tr. check or control (esp. passions).
5 tr. Gram. (esp. of a verb or preposition) have (a noun or pronoun or its case) depending on it.
6 tr. be in military command of (a fort, town).

Idiom

governing body the managers of an institution.

Derivative

governable adj. governability n. governableness n.

Etymology

ME f. OF governer f. L gubernare steer, rule f. Gk kubernao

THESAURUS

Govern

administer, administrate, arrest, be master, be responsible for, boss, bridle, call the shots, call the signals, captain, carry authority, carry on, carry out, chair, check, command, conduct, constrain, contain, control, cool, cool off, crack the whip, curb, curtail, decelerate, decide, determine, direct, discipline, dispose, dominate, dompt, engineer, enjoin, execute, guard, guide, handle, have clout, have power, have the power, have the right, have the say, head, head up, hinder, hold, hold at bay, hold back, hold fast, hold in, hold in check, hold in leash, hold the reins, hold up, inhibit, keep, keep back, keep from, keep in, keep in check, keep under control, lay under restraint, lead, lead on, look after, make the rules, manage, maneuver, manipulate, master, mastermind, officer, order, overrule, oversee, pilot, possess authority, prescribe, preside over, prohibit, pull, pull in, pull the strings, quarterback, regulate, reign, rein, rein in, render, repress, restrain, retard, retrench, rule, run, set back, shepherd, skipper, slow down, snub, stand over, steer, straiten, subdue, superintend, supervise, suppress, sway, take command, take the lead, wear the crown, wear the pants, wield authority, withhold

ROGET THESAURUS

Govern

Direction

VB direct, manage, govern, conduct, order, prescribe, cut out work for, bead, lead, lead the way, show the way, take the lead, lead on, regulate, guide, steer, pilot, tackle, take the helm, be at the helm, have the reins, handle the reins, hold the reins, take the reins, drive, tool, superintend, supervise, overlook, control, keep in order, look after, see to, legislate for, administer, ministrate, matronize, have the care of, have the charge of, be in charge of, have charge of, take the direction, boss, boss one around, pull the strings, pull the wires, rule, have the direction, hold office, hold the portfolio, preside, preside at the board, take the chair, occupy the chair, be in the chair, pull the stroke oar, tend towards, bend towards, point towards, conduct to, go to, point to, point at, bend, trend, verge, incline, dip, determine, steer for, steer towards, make for, make towards, aim at, level at, take aim, keep a course, hold a course, be bound for, bend one's steps towards, direct one's course, steer one's course, bend one's course, shape one's course, align one's march, allign one's march, to straight, go straight to the point, march on, march on a point, ascertain one's direction, s'orienter, see which way the wind blows, box the compass, take the air line.

Government

N government, legal authority, soveriegn, sovereign authority, authority, master, direction, national government, nation, state, country, nation- state, dominion, republic, empire, union, democratic republic, kingdom, principality, state government, state, shire, province, county, canton, territory, duchy, archduchy, archdukedom, woiwodshaft, commonwealth, region, property, county, parish city, domain, tract, arrondissement, mofussil, commune, wappentake, hundred, riding, lathe, garth, soke, tithing, ward, precinct, bailiwick, command, empire, sway, rule, dominion, domination, sovereignty, supremacy, suzerainty, lordship, headship, chiefdom, seigniory, seigniority, rule, sway, command, control, administer, govern, lead, preside over, reign, possess the throne, be seated on the throne, occupy the throne, sway the scepter, wield the scepter, wear the crown, state, realm, body politic, posse comitatus, judicature, cabinet, seat of government, seat of authority, headquarters, accession, installation, politics, reign, regime, dynasty, directorship, dictatorship, protectorate, protectorship, caliphate, pashalic, electorate, presidency, presidentship, administration, proconsul, consulship, prefecture, seneschalship, magistrature, magistracy, monarchy, kinghood, kingship, royalty, regality, aristarchy, aristocracy, oligarchy, democracy, theocracy, demagogy, commonwealth, dominion, heteronomy, republic, republicanism, socialism, collectivism, mob law, mobocracy, ochlocracy, vox populi, imperium in imperio, bureaucracy, beadledom, bumbledom, stratocracy, military power, military government, junta, feodality, feudal system, feudalism, thearchy, theocracy, dinarchy, duarchy, triarchy, heterarchy, duumvirate, triumvirate, autocracy, autonomy, limited monarchy, constitutional government, constitutional monarchy, home rule, representative government, monocracy, pantisocracy, gynarchy, gynocracy, gynaeocracy, petticoat government, legislature, judiciary, administration, office of the president, office of the prime minister, cabinet, senate, house of representatives, parliament, council, courts, supreme court, state, interior, labor, health and human services, defense, education, agriculture, justice, commerce, treasury, Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, National Institutes of Health, NIH, Postal Service, Post Office, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, president, vice president, cabinet member, prime minister, minister, senator, representatative, president pro tem, speaker of the house, department head, section head, section chief, federal judge, justice, justice of the supreme court, chief justice, treasurer, secretary of the treasury, director of the FBI, governor, state cabinet member, state senator, assemblyman, assemblywoman, regal, sovereign, governing, royal, royalist, monarchical, kingly, imperial, imperiatorial, princely, feudal, aristocratic, autocratic, oligarchic, republican, dynastic, ruling, regnant, gubernatorial, imperious, authoritative, executive, administrative, clothed with authority, official, departmental, ex officio, imperative, peremptory, overruling, absolute, hegemonic, hegemonical, authorized, government, public, national, federal, his majesty's, her majesty's, state, county, city, N, a dog's obeyed in office, cada uno tiene su alguazil, le Roi le veut, regibus esse manus en nescio longas, regnant populi, the demigod Authority, the right divine of kings to govern wrong, uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.

VB govern, rule, have authority, hold authority, possess authority, exercise authority, exert authority, wield authority, reign, be sovereign, ascend the throne, mount the throne, take the reins, take the reins into one's hand, assume authority, assume the reins of government, take command, assume command, politics, be governed by, be in the power of, be a subject of, be a citizen of.

Deity

VB create, move, uphold, preserve, govern, atone, redeem, save, propitiate, mediate, predestinate, elect, call, ordain, bless, justify, sanctify, glorify Adj, almighty, holy, hallowed, sacred, divine, heavenly, celestial, sacrosanct, all-knowing, all-seeing, all-wise, omniscient, superhuman, supernatural, ghostly, spiritual, hyperphysical, unearthly, theistic, theocratic, anointed, soterial.