Main Entry:

gov·ern

Pronunciation:

\ˈgə-vərn\

Function:

verb

Etymology:

Middle English, from Anglo-French governer, from Latin gubernare to steer, govern, from Greek kybernan

Date:

14th century

transitive verb1 a: to exercise continuous sovereign authority over ; especially : to control and direct the making and administration of policy in b: to rule without sovereign power and usually without having the authority to determine basic policy2 aarchaic : manipulate b: to control the speed of (as a machine) especially by automatic means3 a: to control, direct, or strongly influence the actions and conduct of b: to exert a determining or guiding influence in or over <income must govern expenditure> c: to hold in check : restrain4: to require (a word) to be in a certain case5: to serve as a precedent or deciding principle for <customs that govern human decisions>intransitive verb1: to prevail or have decisive influence : control2: to exercise authority

— gov·ern·able \-vər-nə-bəl\ adjective