#1
govern v. [
regulate, regularize, regularise, order] bring into conformity with rules or principles or usage; impose regulations; "We cannot regulate the way people dress"; "This town likes to regulate"
. wn #2
govern v. direct or strongly influence the behavior of; "His belief in God governs his conduct"
. wn #3
govern v. [
rule] exercise authority over; as of nations; "Who is governing the country now?"
. wn #4
govern v. require to be in a certain grammatical case, voice, or mood; "most transitive verbs govern the accusative case in German"
. wn