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govern
7 dictionary results for: govern
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
gov·ern       [guhv-ern] Pronunciation Key
–verb (used with object)
1.to rule over by right of authority: to govern a nation.
2.to exercise a directing or restraining influence over; guide: the motives governing a decision.
3.to hold in check; control: to govern one's temper.
4.to serve as or constitute a law for: the principles governing a case.
5.Grammar. to be regularly accompanied by or require the use of (a particular form). In They helped us, the verb helped governs the objective case of the pronoun we.
6.to regulate the speed of (an engine) with a governor.
–verb (used without object)
7.to exercise the function of government.
8.to have predominating influence.
[Origin: 1250–1300; ME < OF gouverner < L gubernāre to steer (a ship) < Gk kybernân to steer]

—Related forms
gov·ern·a·ble, adjective
gov·ern·a·bil·i·ty, gov·ern·a·ble·ness, noun

—Synonyms 1. reign. See rule. 2. control, sway, influence, conduct, supervise, superintend.
—Antonyms 1. obey.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
gov·ern       (gŭv'ərn)  Pronunciation Key 
v.   gov·erned, gov·ern·ing, gov·erns

v.   tr.
  1. To make and administer the public policy and affairs of; exercise sovereign authority in.
  2. To control the speed or magnitude of; regulate: a valve that governs fuel intake.
  3. To control the actions or behavior of: Govern yourselves like civilized people.
  4. To keep under control; restrain: a student who could not govern his impulses.
  5. To exercise a deciding or determining influence on: Chance usually governs the outcome of the game.
  6. Grammar To require (a specific morphological form) of accompanying words.

v.   intr.
  1. To exercise political authority.
  2. To have or exercise a determining influence.


[Middle English governen, from Old French governer, from Latin gubernāre, from Greek kubernān.]

gov'ern·a·ble adj.
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
govern 
1297, from O.Fr. governer "govern," from L. gubernare "to direct, rule, guide," originally "to steer," from Gk. kybernan "to steer or pilot a ship, direct" (the root of cybernetics). The -k- to -g- sound shift is perhaps via the medium of Etruscan. Governess "female ruler" is 1483, shortening of governouresse "a woman who rules;" in the sense of "a female teacher in a private home" it is attested from 1712. Government is first attested 1553, from O.Fr. governement (replacing M.E. governance); governor (c.1300) is from L. gubernatorem (nom. gubernator) "director, ruler, governor," originally "steersman, pilot." Gubernatorial (1734, chiefly in Amer.Eng.) preserves the L. form.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
govern

verb
1. bring into conformity with rules or principles or usage; impose regulations; "We cannot regulate the way people dress"; "This town likes to regulate" [syn: regulate] [ant: deregulate] 
2. direct or strongly influence the behavior of; "His belief in God governs his conduct" 
3. exercise authority over; as of nations; "Who is governing the country now?" 
4. require to be in a certain grammatical case, voice, or mood; "most transitive verbs govern the accusative case in German" 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: gov·ern
Pronunciation: 'g&-v&rn
Function: transitive verb
1 : to exercise continuous sovereign authority over; especially : to control and direct the administration of policy in
2 : to exert a determining or guiding influence in or over governed by will substitutes —W. M. McGovern, Junior et al.>
3 : to serve as a precedent or deciding principle for governing bills of lading> <United States v. Leon governs the case at bar> —gov·er·na·ble /'g&-v&r-n&-b&l/ adjective

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Govern

Gov"ern\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Governed; p. pr. & vb. n. Governing.] [OF. governer, F. gouverner, fr. L. gubernare to steer, pilot, govern, Gr. kyberna^n. Cf. Gubernatorial.]

1. To direct and control, as the actions or conduct of men, either by established laws or by arbitrary will; to regulate by authority. "Fit to govern and rule multitudes." --Shak.

2. To regulate; to influence; to direct; to restrain; to manage; as, to govern the life; to govern a horse.

Govern well thy appetite. --Milton.

3. (Gram.) 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.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Govern

Gov"ern\, v. i. To exercise authority; to administer the laws; to have the control. --Dryden.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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