Middle English Dictionary Entry
governement n.
Entry Info
| Forms | governement n. Also governament, goverment. |
| Etymology | OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The action of governing or ruling; practice or system of government; usen ~, to govern, rule; (b) self-discipline, self-control.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.4.40 : For that the governementz of cites, ilefte in the handes of felonous turmentours citezeens, ne schulde noght bryngen in pestilence and destruccioun to goode folk.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.5.20 : Yif thow remembre of what cuntre thow art born, it nys nat governed by emperoures, ne by governement of multitude.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.7.12 : Men myghten speken or wryten of his gode governement.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.m.1.32 : There halt the lord of kynges the septre of his myght and atemprith the governementz of the world.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.31 : A blissfull þing..if þat thise þat vsen gouernement In wisdom wolde dispende þaire besynesse.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)28/130 : The governementes..of your cite, lefte in the handes of torcencious citezins, shal bringe in pestilence and distruccion to you.
b
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)158 : Thou art thanne..thing that hast no techinge ne gouernement [F gouvernement] in thee.
2.
(a) Controlling force, directing influence; (b) ?the course of natural events.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.6.11 : Whethir wenestow..that this world be governed by foolyssche happes and fortunows, or elles wenestow that ther be inne it ony governement of resoun?
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.6.88 : Thow hast foryeten by whiche governementz the werld is governed.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.12.194 : God governeth alle the thinges of the world by the governementis of bounte.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.55 : Thi compleynt was þis, Þat god on man sette no gouernement.
- c1475(?a1440) Burgh Cato(1) (Rwl C.48)576 : Follow God, and lat hym be thi guyde, That hathe al thyng in his gouerment [vr. gouernament], Futur and passid and that that is present.
b
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.m.2.4 : Nature, myghty, enclyneth and flytteth the governementz of thynges.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)82/173 : Of hem [planets] al governementes in this elemented worlde proceden, as in springes, constellacions, engendrures, and al that folowen kynde and reson.