govern

Everyday

1. To govern is to rule a country, state or group officially. tree →
2. To govern something is to control or decide how it happens: rules govern the game. tree →
3. (formal) To control your feelings: govern your temper. tree →

In the lessons

Citizenship and history lessons (who governs the country), science (laws that govern motion), games and sport (rules that govern play).

Examples

• The prime minister and parliament govern the country. tree →
• Rules govern how the game is played. tree →
• Gravity governs how planets move. tree →
• Try to govern your temper. tree →
• The queen governed for many years. tree →
• A council governs our town. tree →
• The Frogs were tired of governing themselves. tree →

Note

Nouns: government, governor. In grammar, «govern» is also used for words that control another word's form (advanced).

In Jewish tradition

To govern is to rule. In the Prophets and Writings it is used for kings ruling a kingdom, and for the question whether someone who hates justice can truly rule.

Interpretation. Tradition teaches that rulers must be just, since a kingdom held by one who hates right cannot last.

Examples

• Shall even one that hateth right govern? (Writings JOB.34.17, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Jezebel his wife said unto him: 'Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thy heart be merry; I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.' (Prophets 1KI.21.7, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Nouns: government, governor. In grammar, «govern» is also used for words that control another word's form (advanced).