R ˈgəv(ə)nər also -vərnər, - R -v(ə)nə(r noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English governour, from Middle French governeor, from Latin gubernator steersman, from gubernatus (past participle of gubernare to steer) + -or — more at govern
1. : one that governs: as
a. : one that exercises authority especially over an area or group
the kings, princes and governors of the world — Times Literary Supplement
the American people … governors of us all — H.S.Truman
the sun … was the governor of the heavens — S.F.Mason
b. often capitalized , archaic : god
the Deity … which is the supreme governor of all things — Ralph Cudworth
c. : an official elected or appointed to act as ruler, chief executive, or nominal head of a political unit (as a colony, state, or province)
each colony has its own government headed by the governor who represents the crown — W.E.Simnett
the office of governor in the American states — W.S.Sayre
Australian … state governors act on the advice of their ministers — Geoffrey Sawer
d. : commandant
the governor of the besieged fortress
e. : the managing director and usually the principal officer of an institution or organization
is governor of the Bank of France — Harrison Smith
past governor of the local lodge — Springfield (Massachusetts) Union
assistant governor of a large English prison
the governor of an Edinburgh hospital — H.A.Albert
f. : a member of a group of persons that directs or controls an institution or society : director
the board of governors of the Federal Reserve System … consists of seven members — E.W.Kemmerer
the board of governors of the National Press Club — Newsweek
a governor of the University of British Columbia — Current Biography
g. : the chief of an Indian tribe or pueblo
the party executing the order of the … governors of the pueblos — Weekly New Mexican
2. archaic : one that has charge of the education of a young man usually of royal or noble birth
at the age of seven he was … handed over to a governor — Nancy Mitford
3.
a. slang : one looked upon as governing (as a father, guardian, or employer)
my old governor sent me to Eton — Angela Thirkell
b. : mister , sir — usually used in informal address
come and look at 'em, governor — Henry Mayhew
4.
a. : an attachment to a machine (as a gasoline or steam engine) designed to afford automatic control or limitation of speed or power ; especially : such an attachment actuated by the centrifugal force of whirling weights opposed by gravity or by springs
b. : a contrivance giving automatic control (as of pressure or temperature) — called also regulator