governour

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English

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Noun

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governour (plural governours)

  1. Obsolete spelling of governor.

Anagrams

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Middle English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Borrowed from Old French gouvreneur, governeor, from Latin gubernātor; equivalent to governen +‎ -our.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ɡuvərˈnuːr/, /ˈɡuvərnur/, /ˈɡuvərnər/

Noun

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governour (plural gouvernours)

  1. An administrator or leader; one who heads and/or manages a group of people.
    • c. 1395, John Wycliffe, John Purvey [et al.], transl., Bible (Wycliffite Bible (later version), MS Lich 10.)‎[1], published c. 1410, Epheſianes 6:12, page 77r, column 2; republished as Wycliffe's translation of the New Testament, Lichfield: Bill Endres, 2010:
      foꝛwhi ftryuynge is not to us aȝenes fleiſch ⁊ blood .· but aȝenes þe pꝛincis ⁊ poteſtatis aȝenes gouernours of þe woꝛld of þeſe derkneſſis / aȝens ſpiritual þingis of wickidneſſe, in heuenli thingis
      Because for us, striving isn't [just] against flesh and blood, but against princes and potentates, the rulers of these darknesses' world, and the sources of spiritual wickedness in heavenly places.
    1. A ruler; one who rules (either supreme or deputy).
    2. An executive or director; one who is in charge of an institution.
    3. A general; one who leads a military force on the battlefield.
    4. One who manages, leads, or supervises a household or mansion.
  2. Someone who protects, safeguards, or acts as a guardian (used of God or people).
  3. A helmsman; a person who guides or directs a seafaring vessel.
  4. (rare) God as the judger of fate and decider of destiny.
  5. (rare) One who restrains oneself from base urges.
  6. (physiology, rare) A body part which controls other body parts.

Descendants

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  • English: governor (see there for further descendants)
  • Scots: governour
  • Yola: governere

References

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