governed

gov·ern

 (gŭv′ərn)

v. gov·erned, gov·ern·ing, gov·erns

v.tr.

1. To make and administer the public policy and affairs of (a state, for example); exercise sovereign authority over.

2. To control the speed or magnitude of; regulate: a valve that governs fuel intake.

3. To control the actions or behavior of: Govern yourselves like civilized people.

4. To keep under control; restrain: a student who could not govern his impulses.

5. To exercise a deciding or determining influence on: Chance usually governs the outcome of the game.

6. Grammar To require (a specific morphological form) of accompanying words.

v.intr.

1. To exercise political authority.

2. To have or exercise a determining influence.

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[Middle English governen, from Old French governer, from Latin gubernāre, from Greek kubernān.]

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gov′ern·a·ble adj.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

governed - the body of people who are citizens of a particular government; "governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed"--Declaration of Independence citizenry, people - the body of citizens of a state or country; "the Spanish people"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.