Definition of Govern

1. Verb. Bring into conformity with rules or principles or usage; impose regulations. "This town likes to regulate"


2. Verb. Direct or strongly influence the behavior of. "His belief in God governs his conduct"
Generic synonyms: Command, Control
Derivative terms: Government

3. Verb. Exercise authority over; as of nations. "Who is governing the country now?"
Exact synonyms: Rule
Generic synonyms: Command, Control
Specialized synonyms: Throne, Misgovern, Dictate, Reign
Derivative terms: Governance, Governing, Government, Governor, Rule, Rule, Ruler

4. Verb. Require to be in a certain grammatical case, voice, or mood. "Most transitive verbs govern the accusative case in German"

Definition of Govern

1. v. t. To direct and control, as the actions or conduct of men, either by established laws or by arbitrary will; to regulate by authority.

2. v. i. To exercise authority; to administer the laws; to have the control.

Definition of Govern

1. Verb. (transitive) To make and administer the public policy and affairs of; to exercise sovereign authority in. ¹

2. Verb. (transitive) To control the actions or behavior of; to keep under control; to restrain. ¹

3. Verb. (transitive) To exercise a deciding or determining influence on. ¹

4. Verb. (transitive) To control the speed, flow etc. of; to regulate. ¹

5. Verb. (intransitive) To exercise political authority; to run a government. ¹

6. Verb. (intransitive) To have or exercise a determining influence. ¹

7. Verb. (transitive) To require that a certain preposition, grammatical case, etc. be used with a word; sometimes used synonymously with collocate. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Govern

1. to rule or direct [v -ED, -ING, -S]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Govern

goutweed
goutweeds
goutwort
goutworts
gouty
gouty arthritis
gouty diathesis
gouty pearl
gouty urine
gouvernante
gouvernour
gov
gov't
gove
goverment
govern (current term)
governabilities
governability
governable
governableness
governance
governances
governante
governantes
governate
governaunce
governed
governer
governess
governessed

Literary usage of Govern

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville, Henry Reeve (1899)
"WHY THE PEOPLE MAY STRICTLY BE SAID TO govern IN THE UNITED STATES In America the people appoints the legislative and the executive power, and furnishes the ..."

2. European Theories of the Drama: An Anthology of Dramatic Theory and by Barrett Harper Clark (1918)
"... I am asked to define the principles that govern the dramatist in his selection of themes and methods of treatment. But pray, who told you, gentlemen, ..."

3. Supreme Court Reporter by Robert Desty, United States Supreme Court, West Publishing Company (1920)
"The provisions of this ordinance shall not be construed as an attempt to Impair the obligation of any valid contract, but shall apply to and govern all such ..."

4. The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge: Embracing by Johann Jakob Herzog, Philip Schaff, Albert Hauck (1911)
"Appeals to the govern- 7 Ai men^ f°r means t° build new churches of the failed, and Chalmers determined that Church, the work should be done by voluntary ..."

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