'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