GOVERN

verb Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French ~er, from Latin gubernare to steer, ~, from Greek kybernan Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. to exercise continuous sovereign authority over, to rule without sovereign power and usually without having the authority to determine basic policy, 2. manipulate , to control the speed of (as a machine) especially by automatic means, 3. to control, direct, or strongly influence the actions and conduct of, to exert a determining or guiding influence in or over , to hold in check ; restrain , to require (a word) to be in a certain case, to serve as a precedent or deciding principle for , intransitive verb to prevail or have decisive influence ; control , to exercise authority, ~able adjective