Middle English Dictionary Entry
governing(e ger.
Entry Info
| Forms | governing(e ger. Also coverning. |
| Etymology |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The ruling of a country, people, etc.; government, rule; haven in ~, to have (a country, etc.) under (one's) rule; (b) command of a naval force; (c) administrative regulation; management.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)16a/b : He warneth how he schal haue himself in gouernynge of subiectis wiþoute oppressinge & tirandise.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)7402 : Bot þof he [David] þar was [sm]erld king, O þe kingrike al gouerning [Göt: ouer þe king-riche gouerning; Frf: of the kingedomys couernyng], He entir-mett him in na dede.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)7414 : Saul was yeitt in sted o king, Bot he moght do na gouerning.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)7402 : Þe kyngdome to haue in gouernyng, he entermeted him of no þing in dede.
- (c1400) Gower PP (Eg 2862)31 : Kyng Salomon..ches wisdom unto the governynge Of goddis folk.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)7264 : To such folk..Shulde princes, and these lordis wise, Take all her londis and hir thingis, Bothe werre and pees, in governyngis.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1400 : He yaf to Pelleus the governyng Of al his regne, and made hym lord and kyng.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)19.135 : Nasciens the king dide slo, For he wolde hauen þe Rem In gouerninge.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)24266 : Galows the kyng..of þe lond of pastures hadde gouernyng.
- a1450 St.Etheldr.(Fst B.3)56 : Þis kyndam of Westsex..seyȝth wonne þe toþer sexe kyndamus to hym..By grace of þe kyngys þere so welle gouernynge.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.8084 : Protheselaus..in his gouernyng..an hundrid schipes ladde.
c
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Cor.12.28 : And sothli God puttide summe in the chirche, first apostlis..aftirward graces of..helpingis, governaylis, or gouernyngis [L gubernationes].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.35 : Seuen manere of famous doynge..gouernynge [L dispositio] of meyny and of householde.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.599 : His lordes sheep, his neet, [etc.]..Was hoolly in this reues gouernynge, And by his couenant yaf the rekenynge.
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.116 : Other fundacion no gouernynge is noughte in oure gilde.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)676/17 : Theire possessions..sholde be keped hole for there gouernyng and susteynyng for the which they were I-graunted.
2.
(a) The controlling of the course of worldly events; (b) the control by one bodily part or function of another part or function.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.6.98 : The sothe sentence of governance of the werld, that thou bylevest that the governynge of it is nat subgit ne underput to the folye of thise happes aventurous, but to the resoun of God.
b
- c1440(?c1350) Mirror St.Edm.(4) (Thrn)25/19 : Lecherye..mase manes herte to melte, and to playe thare þare his herte lykes..and þat with-owten gouernynge of resoune.
- a1450 Where-of is mad (Dgb 102)11 : The heued, y likne to a kyng, ffor he is lord souereyn of al; Haþ foure to his gouernyng: Mouþ and nose, and eyen wiþ al, Eryn fayre.
3.
(a) The exercising of personal control over another or others; protective guidance or keeping; setten in ~, to establish (sb.) in a position of personal control or guidance; (b) ?moral self-discipline, conduct.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Ph.(Manly-Rickert)C.75 : Ye maistresses..That lordes doghtres han in gouernaunce..Thenketh that ye been set in gouernynges Of lordes doghtres oonly for two thynges.
- a1400(?c1300) LFMass Bk.(Roy 17.B.17)50/528 : Þat be þi [God's] might & gouernynge I be euer in ȝernynge.
- (1412) Doc.in Flasdieck Origurk.50 : Yat dame Elizabeth Redman hafe yis doghter forsayde in hyr kepyng and gouernyng tyll scho be maryede.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)159 : The secounde parte of actyffe lyf..is in gouerning of othere men, and techynge, and helpynge to the hele of soule.
- c1450 Palladius (BodAdd A.369)1.126 : That yonger men obeye unto thaire eldron In gouuernynge [vr. governaunce], as goode and buxom childron.
b
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)16 : Egberte was þat kynges name, A douȝty knyȝt and of godde gouernynge, And a mon he was of ryȝt godde fame.
4.
Med. The prescribing of medicines or treatments for preserving or restoring health; the regimen prescribed; also, preservation of health; ~ of helthe.
Associated quotations
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)262a/a : Here fleissh is bettre in kepynge and gouernynge of helþe.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)165a/a : Of maner of gouernyng cauteriez, it is to wite þat þer is double gouernaunce of þam.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)2b/a : Þe firste book of gouernynge of scharpe medecynes.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)31b/a : The cure of þe veray herisiple is as þe cure of the veray flegmon wiþ oute þe vnyuersal gouernynge [*Ch.(1): gouernaunce; L regimen].
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)56a/b : Þogh þe crafte of helyng be of þo þinges þe whiche ben made of fortune, neuerþelatter so is nouȝt þe crafte of preseruynge, i. gouernynge.
5.
Piloting of a ship, steering.
Associated quotations
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)Jas.3.4 : Grete schyppes..beþ y-turned aboute wiþ a lytul gouernynge, whydur þat he wole þat is gouernour of þe schypp.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)56 : He þat ȝeuiþ þe gouerning of a schip til an vnwitti, vnkunning, or not willing goueren it, is gilty of þe schip.
6.
Gram. The requiring of a certain case.
Associated quotations
- c1450 Battlefield Gram.(Trin-C O.5.4)121 : How knowyst synodoche? A sygnyng of the party to al or a signyng of al to the party..Whenne that at is the hole is delyueryd in to the party wyth oute gouernynge of an accusatyf case, as thys maide is clere the kynde, jsta virgo est clara genus..As whenne that at is of the party is delyueryd to the hole wyth gouernyng of the accusatyf case, as thys man is whyte the face, jste homo est albus faciem.