'Govern' definitions:
Definition of 'govern'
From: WordNet
verb
Bring into conformity with rules or principles or usage; impose regulations; "We cannot regulate the way people dress"; "This town likes to regulate" [syn: regulate, regularize, regularise, order, govern] [ant: deregulate]
verb
Direct or strongly influence the behavior of; "His belief in God governs his conduct"
verb
Exercise authority over; as of nations; "Who is governing the country now?" [syn: govern, rule]
verb
Require to be in a certain grammatical case, voice, or mood; "most transitive verbs govern the accusative case in German"
Definition of 'Govern'
From: GCIDE
- Govern \Gov"ern\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Governed; p. pr. & vb. n. Governing.] [OF. governer, F. gouverner, fr. L. gubernare to steer, pilot, govern, Gr. kyberna^n. Cf. Gubernatorial.]
- 1. To direct and control, as the actions or conduct of men, either by established laws or by arbitrary will; to regulate by authority. "Fit to govern and rule multitudes." --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To regulate; to influence; to direct; to restrain; to manage; as, to govern the life; to govern a horse. [1913 Webster]
- Govern well thy appetite. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
- 3. (Gram.) To require to be in a particular case; as, a transitive verb governs a noun in the objective case; or to require (a particular case); as, a transitive verb governs the objective case. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Govern'
From: GCIDE
- Govern \Gov"ern\, v. i. To exercise authority; to administer the laws; to have the control. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'govern'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- administer,
- administrate,
- arrest,
- be master,
- be responsible for,
- boss,
- bridle,
- call the shots,
- call the signals,
- captain,
- carry authority,
- carry on,
- carry out,
- chair,
- check,
- command,
- conduct,
- constrain,
- contain,
- control,
- cool,
- cool off,
- crack the whip,
- curb,
- curtail,
- decelerate,
- decide,
- determine,
- direct,
- discipline,
- dispose,
- dominate,
- dompt,
- engineer,
- enjoin,
- execute,
- guard,
- guide,
- handle,
- have clout,
- have power,
- have the power,
- have the right,
- have the say,
- head,
- head up,
- hinder,
- hold,
- hold at bay,
- hold back,
- hold fast,
- hold in,
- hold in check,
- hold in leash,
- hold the reins,
- hold up,
- inhibit,
- keep,
- keep back,
- keep from,
- keep in,
- keep in check,
- keep under control,
- lay under restraint,
- lead,
- lead on,
- look after,
- make the rules,
- manage,
- maneuver,
- manipulate,
- master,
- mastermind,
- officer,
- order,
- overrule,
- oversee,
- pilot,
- possess authority,
- prescribe,
- preside over,
- prohibit,
- pull,
- pull in,
- pull the strings,
- quarterback,
- regulate,
- reign,
- rein,
- rein in,
- render,
- repress,
- restrain,
- retard,
- retrench,
- rule,
- run,
- set back,
- shepherd,
- skipper,
- slow down,
- snub,
- stand over,
- steer,
- straiten,
- subdue,
- superintend,
- supervise,
- suppress,
- sway,
- take command,
- take the lead,
- wear the crown,
- wear the pants,
- wield authority,
- withhold
Words containing 'Govern'
- Governability,
- Governable,
- Governableness,
- Governal,
- Governance,
- Governed,
- Governing,
- Government,
- governments,
- Paternal government,
- Petticoat government,
- federal government,
- form of government,
- governing board,
- governing body,
- government activity,
- government agency,
- government agent,
- government bond,
- government building,
- government department,
- government income,
- government issue,
- government man,
- government minister,
- government note,
- government of god,
- government office,
- government officials,
- government revenue,
- government security,
- local government,
- military government,
- municipal government,
- puppet government,
- state government,
- u.s. government,
- us government,
- Self-government,
- department of local government,
- department of the federal government,
- government accounting office,
- government printing office,
- government-in-exile,
- rule-governed,
- self-governing,
- united states government,
- us government printing office,
- united states government accounting office,
- united states government printing office