To rule (a country, people, city, etc.) by exercise of sovereign or delegated authority; rule (the Church, a religious institution); -- (a) with or (b) without obj.

(a) To command (an armed force); (b) to direct (a choir).

To administer the affairs of (a household, a guild, an estate); administer (a legacy); oversee (a festival); manage or handle (a matter).

To exercise controlling or determining influence over (people, places, the course of events, etc.); rule, dominate, sway; -- said of: (a) God, a member of the Trinity, a pagan deity, etc.; -- also, without obj.; (b) reason, justice, virtues, vices, fortunes, a symbol of power, etc.; (c) the planets or constellations.

Of a bodily part or function: to control (another part or function); --also without obj.

(a) To exercise personal control over (sb.), have (sb.) under protective guardianship or keeping; also, protect (sb., a church); god you govern, God keep you, etc.; --also without obj.; (b) to guide (sb.) in direction or course of action; (c) ?to treat (sb. in a certain way), act toward.

(a) To restrain (one's body, strength, love), control (youth), curb (one's tongue); (b) ben governed, to conduct oneself, act, behave; (c) wel-governed, self-controlled, well-behaved; ivel-governed, badly behaved.

Refl. (a) To control oneself, discipline oneself morally, exercise restraint or self-control; (b) to act, behave, conduct oneself (in a certain way); (c) ~ in gret arrai, to make a great mustering of armed forces.

(a) To control (a mechanical contrivance); direct the working of, regulate; (b) to control the direction of (a ship); guide, steer, pilot.

(a) To treat (sb., oneself, the body, etc.) with a certain regimen in order to preserve or restore health; (b) to tend (a plant).

Gram. Of a verb: to require (a certain case in the subject or object); of a noun, adj., or pron.: require (a certain case in a dependent substantive); govern (a case).