Middle English Dictionary Entry
governǒur n.
Entry Info
| Forms | governǒur n. Also gouvernour, gubernour, govnour, covernour & governer, guverner. |
| Etymology | OF governëor & L gubernātor. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1a.
(a) A sovereign ruler or lord; lord and ~; also fig.; (b) a subordinate or substitute ruler; governor of a province, etc.; head of a religious institution; member of the ruling body of a town; a judge.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3878 : This Pompeus, this noble gouernour Of Rome.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.861 : Theseus Of Atthenes..was lord and gouernour.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.5133 : At Rome whan that Apius..Was governour of the cite.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)271b/b : Whan þe poeple of been beþ in trauayle, he [the emperor] is wiþinne, & as it were þe gouernour, and goþ aboute to comforte or for to worche and oonliche he is not y bounde to trauayle.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.166 : Þe lond..þat þin ancessoure So wele kept biforn, als noble gouernoure.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1645 : Þe Soverayn of heven..Gart hym grattest to be of governores alle.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.7 : Pelleus..Helde the lordschipe and the regallye Of this yle, as gouernour and kyng.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5525 : Belus..of Assirie was lord & gouernour.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.5.14 : Whanne the blisfulnesse and the pouste of gouvernours is..ischad among peples that ben neyghbors and subgitz.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)5798 : Þey chose Sauer, a senatour, emperour, & made hym maister & gouernour.
- a1450(1413) Glade in god call (Dgb 102)138 : A comons myȝt sone be shent Wiþ-outen kyng or gouernour.
- c1450(c1386) Chaucer LGW Prol.(1) (Benson-Robinson)170 : Thise foweles..songen alle of oon acord, 'Welcome, somer, oure governour and lord!'
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)2 : Of þe gouernouris in rome fro þe tyme of romulus on to þe last kyng tarquinius.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)prol.45 : Ther nys no gouernour on þe grounde ne sholde gye him þe better.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2944 : Ye peple, folk and gouernours of holy chirche, to thy sone, to thy wyf, to thy freend, ne to thy brother, ne yeue thow neuere myght ne maistrie of thy body whil thow lyuest.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.2768 : Maximin..Of Rome which was Emperour..whanne he made a governour Be weie of substitucion Of Province or of region, He wolde ferst enquere his name.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.146 : Þise were mayntenours, to sustene þe coroun, & rightfulle gouernours þe folk in feld & toun.
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)206/21 : Piers of Gauaston..forsuore Engeland, and went into Irland; and þere þe Kyng made him chiefteyn and Gouernour of þe lande by his commissioun.
- (1423) RParl.4.257a : That everyth one have diverses touches, after the ordenances of Mairs, Baillifs, or Governours of the forseid Tounes.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)70/19 : Þe prince of þe land of Corodan made him [Mohammed] keper and gouernour of his land.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)22/322 : No mon make a couernour Bot ȝif hit be to Godys honour.
- ?c1430(c1400) Rule & T.St.Francis(1) (Corp-C 296)45 : On of the cardynales of þe chirche of rome, þat be gouernour, meyntenour, and correctour of þis fraternyte.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)114/8 : Þe gouernorys of þe town went in gret hast & toke owt þo tweyn pilgrimys.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)1804 : He left..Discrete gouernouris..On ouyr þe prestis was made president, A-nothir preferred was ouer þe lewid couent.
- (1442-3) Let.Coldingham in Sur.Soc.12145 : Till haff made..sir Alexandre Houme..oure bailye and gubernour of all oure lordshipp and lands of the house and barony of Coldinghame.
- (1447-8) Shillingford94 : The Meyer and Styward with the more part of the xij men governers of the seide cyte.
- a1450 St.Etheldr.(Fst B.3)552 : Þen was..Sexburwe y-made abbas in gret hast, And thre and twenty ȝere was þer gouernere.
- c1450(?c1400) 3 KCol.(1) (Cmb Ee.4.32)116/9 : Þes iij worschippeful kyngis..chosen and ordeyned a..man þat scholde be lorde and chefe gouernour among þe pepil in temporalte.
- c1450(?c1400) 3 KCol.(1) (Cmb Ee.4.32)116/29 : Þes iij kyngis assigned þe patriark Thomas and Preester Iohn, þat oon to be chefe gouernour in spiritualite, and þat oþir to be chefe lorde in temporalte.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)94/19 : Þe world ys a gardyn; his cloþinge or his echynge ys dome; doomesmen er gounours knowynge þe lawe.
1b.
(a) A military leader, commander; ~ of werres; (b) a leader of a band of pilgrims.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Num.31.14 : Moises wrooþ to þe pryncys of þe hoost, leders of þousondys, & gouernors of hundredys [L centurionibus].
- a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862)1025 : Agam..shal with muche honoure Be oure alþer gouernoure.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.4032 : On þis felde þat we do oure peyne For to deuyde oure meyne in-to tweyne; And of þe ton schal kyng Thelamoun Be gouernour.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.4316 : Many Troyan þat day made he deye..Al destitute of gouernour or guyde.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5211 : Agamenoun..was prince and gouernour Of Grekis hoste.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.20 : Þe Troyan champioun, Gouernour of werris of þe toun, Worþi Ector.
- a1425 Arth.& M.(LinI 150)94 : He scholde beo his gouernour, Aȝeyn his fomen for to fyȝt.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1060 : Al the companye of Eneas..hadde founde here lord, here governour.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)525/28 : There was a forty knyghtes togydir, and sir Kay le Senescial was their governoure.
b
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.813 : [We] preyden hym [the host] also..that he wolde been oure gouernour, And of oure tales iuge and reportour.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)79 : The pilgrymes leye At Canterbury..Her gouernour, the host.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)181 : Our hoste, gouernour and guyde Of ȝow echon, ridyng her be-side.
1c.
An administrative director of a guild, a household, etc.; steward, manager, master; also, administrator of a will.
Associated quotations
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3130 : Thow art som officer, Som worthy sexteyn, or som clerer..Thow art a maister whan thou art at hom, No poure cloistrer, ne no novys, But a gouernour wily and wys.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.1016 : He [Pan] was the chief of governours Of hem that kepten tame bestes.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.1128 : Bot he that is a governour Of worldes good, if he be wys, Withinne his herte he set no pris Of al the world.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)51b/b : Preponitus: a reue or a gouernor or a grayue.
- (1426) Reg.Chichele in Cant.Yk.S.42 (Lamb 69)341 : Of this present testament or last wille I make..my forsaide lord and brother survyour and governour in alle thyng.
- (1427) in Heath Grocers4 : John de Wellys, Alderman and governour.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)206 : Gouernowre of mony yn an howsholde, vndur a lorde or mayster: Massarius, massaria.
- (1442) Grocer Lond.(Kingdon)271/1 : This is thacompt of Stephen Broune, Alderman, uppermaister, and gouernour of the mistere of grocerie of London.
2.
(a) One who exercises controlling or determining influence over things; -- used of God; (b) controller of bodily parts or functions; -- said of the head, brain, heart; (c) ~ of a purpose, one who determines the outcome of a purpose; ~ of right (and of verite), lord of justice (and of truth).
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.m.5.34 : O thou governour, governynge alle thynges by certein ende, whi refusestow oonly to governe the werkes of men?
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.5.51 : God, the gode governour, atempreth and governeth the world.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.6.238 : Who is elles kepere of good or dryvere awey of yvel but God, governour and lechere of thoughtes?
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)42/26 : Thilke governour, out of whom alone the causes proceden that governen al thinges..why suffreth he suche slydinge chaunges?
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)38a/b : Þe heed..is gouernour & reulere of alle þe body.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)57a/a : Herte tofore þe lyuour as reulere and gouernour þerof.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)98/11 : Of þe rote of þe harne þare growyn light thynne skynnes as arayne webbys, & þey ar as a couerynge & a curtyn to þe gouernour.
c
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2161 : Now take on þe..To be chef prince & also gouernour Of þis purpos.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)122/33 : To a nobyl Maystyr, of ryght gouernoure and of verite, Arystotle, Sendyth gretynge his disciple Alexandre.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)48/8 : O Noble doctour, gouernour of right.
3.
A personal keeper, protector, or guide; -- said of: (a) persons, a parish priest; (b) God, Christ, a pagan deity; (c) mercy.
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)126/3 : Be þise uour uirtues ydo is þe man worþi þet he by gouernour..of oþren.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ecclus.32.1 : A gouernour [L rectorem] thee thei han sett, wile thou not ben enhauncid.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)1222 : Wemen may maintene no stowre; Þai most nedes have a governowre.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)111b/b : If forsoþ þai be hole [from leprosy], þai ar to be assoiled, & with letterez of þe lechez to be send to þe rectours, i. gouernours [*Ch.(2): persouns or gouernours; L rectores].
- a1500(?c1400) Triam.(Cmb Ff.2.38)849 : Than hath that lady gente Chosyn hym wyth comyns assente To be hur gouernowre.
b
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)100/11 : He [God] ys uader; he is diȝtere and gouernour and porueyour to his mayne, an nameliche of his children, þet is, of man.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.1031 : Appollo, god and gouernour Of euery plaunte, herbe, tree, and flour.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)18366 : Lauerd and godd he sal be ur, And euer mar vr gouernur.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)1713 : His nexte bysyb cosyn Beeþ Jubiter and Appolyn, Gouernoures of lewed and lered.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)168/110 : Haile! to þat pereles Prynce..Þat haþ groundid þe in grace and is þi Couernoure.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)48 : Lord god..þou muste nedis be þilk þing which is maker, keper and gouernor of alle creaturis.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)492/33 : Lorde! Jesu Criste, oure gouernoure.
- c1450(?a1422) Lydg.LOL (Dur-U Cosin V.2.16)4.627 : Nowe criste Ihesu..like a kyng, be thou our gouernour And Champyon, to helpe vs in our nede.
c
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.2729 : Tak into thi conscience Merci to be thi governour.
4.
One who practices self-control; ~ of himself.
Associated quotations
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)126/3 : Be þise uour uirtues ydo is þe man worþi þet he by gouernour uerst of him-zelue.
5.
One who controls the direction of a ship; steersman, pilot, captain.
Associated quotations
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Deeds 27.11 : Centurioun bileuede more to the gouernour [L gubernatori], and to the lord of the schipp, than to these thingis that weren seid of Poul.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)158a/b : Þan is moste perile in þe see whan þe shippe hath an vnredy gouernour and vnavisede.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.153 : Of Helianore schip he was hir gouernour.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.665 : Philotetes..was mayster pleynly of hem alle In schipman crafte, and chose her gouernour.
- c1425 Bible SNT(1) (Cmb Dd.12.39)Deeds 27.11 : Þo centurio trowed vnto þo guuernere of þo schippe.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.43/18 : [The sea] cast the shippe nowe hydyr, now thydyr; the gouerner wyste neuer whydyr to come.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)139/4 : Þe schip-men..in þe schip..a-swiþe as þei heren þe whistle of here maister gouernor, þei rennen and lepen as þei were wode.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)108 : I am thilke that maketh the gouernour slepe amiddes the ship vnder the mast whan he hath lost other broken the steerne.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)126.50 (v.2:p.324) : The sory [read: fery] boot .. cam ouyr to hym and led hym and hys ouyr withoutyn ony shypman or gouernour saf the grace of God.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)2791 : The Maister Marynere, the gouernour, He knoweth euery cooste in his viage And port saluz.
- c1475(?c1451) Worcester Bk.Noblesse (Roy 18.B.22)58 : There be men in a ship..some goithe to set up the saile and take it downe as the governoure, the maister, avisithe hem.