Definition of govern
- v. t. - To direct and control, as the actions or conduct of men,
either by established laws or by arbitrary will; to regulate by
authority.
- v. t. - To regulate; to influence; to direct; to restrain; to
manage; as, to govern the life; to govern a horse.
- v. t. - 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.
- v. i. - To exercise authority; to administer the laws; to have
the control.