govern

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   direct or strongly influence the behavior of

   Their belief in God governs their conduct.

2. 2
   verb

   require to be in a certain grammatical case, voice, or mood

   most transitive verbs govern the accusative case in German

3. 3
   verb

   To make and administer the public policy and affairs of; to exercise sovereign authority in.

   The old king governed the land wisely.

4. 4
   verb

   To exercise political authority; to run a government.

   Americans are not libertarians in the Cato Institute sense of the word, but they are folk libertarians in this sense of impulsive behaviour, which is a feature of American life that anyone who wants to govern the United States, Democratic or Republican, has to be aware of.

5. 5
   verb

   To control the actions or behavior of; to keep under control; to restrain.

   Govern yourselves like civilized people.

6. 6
   verb

   To exercise a deciding or determining influence on.

   Chance governs the outcome of many card games.

7. 7
   verb

   To control the speed, flow etc. of; to regulate.

   a valve that governs fuel intake

8. 8
   verb

   To look after, to take care of, to tend to (someone or some plant).

   from my vncles country of Medea, Where all my youth I haue bene gouerned, […]

Etymology

From Middle English governen, governe, from Anglo-Norman and Old French governer, guverner, from Latin gubernō, from Ancient Greek κυβερνάω (kubernáō, “to steer, drive, govern”). Displaced native Old English wealdan, whence modern dialectical English wald (“to govern”).