govern
[ guhv-ern ]
/ ˈgʌv ərn /
||
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
to exercise the function of government.
to have predominating influence.
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Nearby words
goutweed, gouty, gouty stool, gov, gov., govern, governable, governador valadares, governance, governess, governing
Origin of govern
1250–1300; Middle English < Old French gouverner < Latin gubernāre to steer (a ship) < Greek kybernân to steer
ANTONYMS FOR govern
1 obey.
Related forms
Synonym study
1. See rule.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for well-governed
British Dictionary definitions for well-governed (1 of 2)
well-governed
adjective (well governed when postpositive)
(of a political unit, organization, nation, etc) directed and controlled efficiently or satisfactorily
British Dictionary definitions for well-governed (2 of 2)
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 Formsgovernable, adjectivegovernability or governableness, noun
Word Origin for govern
C13: from Old French gouverner, from Latin gubernāre to steer, from Greek kubernan
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for well-governed
govern
late 13c., from Old French governer (11c., Modern French gouverner) "govern," from Latin gubernare "to direct, rule, guide, govern" (cf. Spanish gobernar, Italian governare), originally "to steer," a nautical borrowing from Greek kybernan "to steer or pilot a ship, direct" (the root of cybernetics). The -k- to -g- sound shift is perhaps via the medium of Etruscan. Related: Governed; governing.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper