governor

Everyday

1. A governor is a person who is chosen or elected to be in charge of a region, such as a state of the USA or an Australian state. tree →
2. (UK) A school governor is a volunteer on the board that helps run a school. tree →
3. (UK) The governor of a prison or a bank is its head. tree →
4. (old use) A governor-general represents the king or queen in countries like Canada, Australia and New Zealand. tree →
5. (informal, UK, old) «Guv'nor» means boss. tree →

In the lessons

In geography and citizenship lessons, each US state has a governor; Australian states have governors too. In British schools, parents can become school governors. In history, a colonial governor ran a colony for another country. Phrases: «state governor», «school governor», «the Governor of the Bank of England», «Governor-General».

Examples

• The governor of California gave a speech. tree →
• My mum is a school governor. tree →
• The prison governor visited each cell. tree →
• The Governor-General of Canada opened the new park. tree →
• The governor signed the new law. tree →
• In history, the governor ruled the colony for the king. tree →
• The school governors met to plan the budget. tree →
• An hour later the real Governor returned. tree →

Note

Countable: governors. Capital G before a name or title: Governor Smith. Related: govern, government, governance. In the UK, «governess» is a different (old) word for a woman who taught children at home.

In Jewish tradition

Here it means a ruler who holds power over a land or district under a king, a title for Joseph in Egypt. Later it names officials such as the governors beyond the River and Zerubbabel, governor of Judah.

Interpretation. Tradition sees Joseph's rise from slave and prisoner to ruler as God's hidden plan to save his family and many others from famine. Zerubbabel, a descendant of David, is read as a sign of hope for the return of Israel's kingdom.

Examples

• And Joseph was the governor over the land; he it was that sold to all the people of the land. (Torah GEN.42.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people. (Prophets JDG.5.9, JPS 1917) tree →
• Then I came to the governors beyond the River, and gave them the king's letters. (Writings NEH.2.9, JPS 1917) tree →
• 'Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying: I will shake the heavens and the earth; (Prophets HAG.2.21, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable: governors. Capital G before a name or title: Governor Smith. Related: govern, government, governance. In the UK, «governess» is a different (old) word for a woman who taught children at home.