govern
[ guhv-ern ]
/ ˈgʌv ərn /
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verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
to exercise the function of government.
to have predominating influence.
SYNONYMS FOR govern
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“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.
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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
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for govern
British Dictionary definitions for govern
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 directto 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, adjectivegovernability or governableness, nounWord Origin for govern
C13: from Old French gouverner, from Latin gubernāre to steer, from Greek kubernan
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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