KJV Dictionary Definition: govern

govern

GOV'ERN, v.t. L. guberno. The L. guberno seems to be a compound.

1. To direct and control, as the actions or conduct of men, either by established laws or by arbitrary will; to regulate by authority; to keep within the limits prescribed by law or sovereign will. Thus in free states, men are governed by the constitution and laws; in despotic states, men are governed by the edicts or commands of a monarch. Every man should govern well his own family.

2. To regulate; to influence; to direct. This is the chief point by which he is to govern all his counsels and actions.

3. To control; to restrain; to keep in due subjection; as, to govern the passions or temper.

4. To direct; to steer; to regulate the course or motion of a ship. The helm or the helmsman governs the ship.

5. In grammar, to require to be in a particular case; as, a verb transitive governs a word in the accusative case; or to require a particular case; as, a verb governs the accusative case.

GOV'ERN, v.i. To exercise authority; to administer the laws. The chief magistrate should govern with impartiality.

1. To maintain the superiority; to have the control.

governable

GOV'ERNABLE, a. That may be governerned, or subjected to authority; controllable; manageable; obedient; submissive to law or rule.

governance

GOV'ERNANCE,n. Government; exercise of authority; direction; control; management, either of a public officer, or of a private guardian or tutor.

governant

GOV'ERNANT, n. A lady who has the care and management of young females; a governess. The latter is more generally used.

governed

GOV'ERNED, pp. Directed; regulated by authority; controlled; managed; influenced; restrained.

governing

GOV'ERNING, pr. Directing; controlling; regulating by laws or edicts; managing; influencing; restraining.

1. Holding the superiority; prevalent; as a governing wind; a governing party n a state.

2. Directing; controlling; as a governing motive.

government

GOV'ERNMENT, n. Direction; regulation. These precepts will serve for the government of our conduct.

1. Control; restraint. Men are apt to neglect the government of their temper and passions.

2. The exercise of authority; direction and restraint exercised over the actions of men in communities, societies or states; the administration of public affairs, according to established constitution, laws and usages, or by arbitrary edicts. Prussia rose to importance under the government of Frederick II.

3. The exercise of authority by a parent or householder. Children are often ruined by a neglect of government in parents.

Let family government be like that of our heavenly Father, mild, gentle and affectionate.

4. The system of polity in a state; that form of fundamental rules and principles by which a nation or state is governed, or by which individual members of a body politic are to regulate their social actions; a constitution, either written or unwritten, by which the rights and duties of citizens and public officers are prescribed and defined; as a monarchial government, or a republican government.

Thirteen governments thus founded on the natural authority of the people alone, without the pretence of miracle or mystery, are a great point gained in favor of the rights of mankind.

5. An empire, kingdom or state; any territory over which the right of sovereignty is extended.

6. The right of governing or administering the laws. The king of England vested the government of Ireland in the lord lieutenant.

7. The persons or council which administer the laws of a kingdom or state; executive power.

8. Manageableness; compliance; obsequiousness.

9. Regularity of behavior. Not in use.

10. Management of the limbs or body. Not in use.

11. In grammar, the influence of a word in regard to construction,as when established usage required that one word should cause another to be in a particular case or mode.

Definitions from Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828.
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