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.