1. (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.

2. (v. t.) To regulate; to influence; to direct; to restrain; to manage; as, to govern the life; to govern a horse.

3. (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.

4. (v. i.) To exercise authority; to administer the laws; to have the control.

administer administrate arrest be master be responsible for boss bridle call the shots call the signals captain carry authority carry on carry out chair check command conduct constrain contain control cool cool off crack the whip curb curtail decelerate decide determine direct discipline dispose dominate dompt engineer enjoin execute guard guide handle have clout have power have the power have the right have the say head head up hinder hold hold at bay hold back hold fast hold in hold in check hold in leash hold the reins hold up inhibit keep keep back keep from keep in keep in check keep under control lay under restraint lead lead on look after make the rules manage maneuver manipulate master mastermind officer order overrule oversee pilot possess authority prescribe preside over prohibit pull pull in pull the strings quarterback regulate reign rein rein in render repress restrain retard retrench rule run set back shepherd skipper slow down snub stand over steer straiten subdue superintend supervise suppress sway take command take the lead wear the crown wear the pants wield authority withhold