govern
[ guhv-ern ]
/ ˈgʌv ərn /
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
to exercise the function of government.
to have predominating influence.
Words nearby govern
goutweed, gouty, gouty stool, gov, gov., govern, governador valadares, governance, governess, government, government house
Origin of govern
1250–1300; Middle English < Old French gouverner < Latin gubernāre to steer (a ship) < Greek kybernân to steer
SYNONYMS FOR govern
OTHER WORDS FROM govern
synonym study for govern
1. See rule.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Examples from the Web for governed
British Dictionary definitions for governed
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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