ˈgəvə(r)n sometimes ˈgəv ə m or ˈgəb ə m verb
( governed ; governed ; governing -və(r)niŋ, - R sometimes -vniŋ ; governs -və(r)nz, -v ə mz, -b ə mz)
Etymology: Middle English governen, from Old French governer, from Latin gubernare to steer, pilot, govern, from Greek kybernan, probably of non-Indo-European origin
transitive verb
1.
a. : to exercise arbitrarily or by established rules continuous sovereign authority over ; especially : to control and direct the making and administration of policy in
a cabinet which … is to govern the land — C.J.Friedrich
Europe was governed almost entirely by kings — Stringfellow Barr
b. : to rule without sovereign power : implement and carry into effect policy decisions over without having the power to determine basic policy : administer
the country is ruled but not governed — Frederick Puckle
New York City is governed by its budget director … supported by department engineers, administrators — A.A.Berle
2.
a. archaic : to control the workings or operation of : manipulate
govern these ventages with your fingers and thumbs … and it will discourse most eloquent music — Shakespeare
b. : to control the speed or power of (as a machine) especially by automatic means — compare governor 4
3.
a. : to control, direct, or strongly influence the actions and conduct of (as a person or a group)
men are governed by memory rather than thought — John Dewey
special students … are governed by the same scholastic regulations — Bulletin of Meharry Medical College
b. : determine , guide , regulate
a commission to govern the union's business affairs
deadlock and compromise largely governed the choice — B.K.Sandwell
its agreements govern working conditions in many ports — E.P.Hohman
c. : to hold in check : restrain
this consuming passion for law made him govern himself — H.E.Scudder
I appeal to you to govern your temper — Charles Dickens
4.
a. obsolete : to require (a verb) to be in a certain person and number — used of the subject of a verb; compare agree vi 5
b. : to require (a word) to be in a certain case or mood
in English a transitive verb governs a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the accusative case
c. : to call for (a certain case or mood) : require
the German preposition mit governs the dative case
the Greek conjunction ean governs the subjunctive mood
5. : to constitute a rule or law for : serve as a precedent or deciding principle for
policies … which should govern the services of all libraries — Helen T. Geer
the principles which should govern the creation of proletarian literature — C.I.Glicksberg
intransitive verb
1. : to prevail or have decisive influence : control
in all causes of passion admit reason to govern — George Washington
2. : to exercise authority : perform the functions of government especially in the making and execution of policy : rule
at the beginning of the seventeenth century our kings still governed as well as reigned — Ernest Barker
— compare reign