govern

[ guhv-ern ]
/ ˈgʌv ərn /

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

to exercise the function of government.
to have predominating influence.

Origin of govern

1250–1300; Middle English < Old French gouverner < Latin gubernāre to steer (a ship) < Greek kybernân to steer

synonym study for govern

1. See rule.

OTHER WORDS FROM govern

Example sentences from the Web for governable

British Dictionary definitions for governable

govern
/ (ˈɡʌvən) /

verb (mainly tr)

(also intr) to direct and control the actions, affairs, policies, functions, etc, of (a political unit, organization, nation, etc); rule
to exercise restraint over; regulate or direct to govern one's temper
to be a predominant influence on (something); decide or determine (something) his injury governed his decision to avoid sports
to control the speed of (an engine, machine, etc) using a governor
to control the rate of flow of (a fluid) by using an automatic valve
(of a word) to determine the inflection of (another word) Latin nouns govern adjectives that modify them

Derived forms of govern

governable, adjective governability or governableness, noun

Word Origin for govern

C13: from Old French gouverner, from Latin gubernāre to steer, from Greek kubernan