govern

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Contents

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

Latin gubernō, from Ancient Greek κυβερνάω (kubernaō), I steer, drive, govern)

[edit] Pronunciation

[edit] Verb

Infinitive
to govern

Third person singular
governs

Simple past
governed

Past participle
governed

Present participle
governing

to govern (third-person singular simple present governs, present participle governing, simple past and past participle governed)

  1. (transitive) To make and administer the public policy and affairs of; to exercise sovereign authority in.
  2. (transitive) To control the actions or behavior of; to keep under control; to restrain.
    Govern yourselves like civilized people.
    a student who could not govern his impulses.
  3. (transitive) To exercise a deciding or determining influence on.
    Chance usually governs the outcome of the game.
  4. (transitive) To control the speed, flow etc. of; to regulate.
    a valve that governs fuel intake.
  5. (intransitive) To exercise political authority; to run a government.
  6. (intransitive) To have or exercise a determining influence.

[edit] Related terms

[edit] Translations

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