1conduct the policy, actions, and affairs of (a state, organization, or people) with authority:he was incapable of governing the country (as adjective governing)the governing coalition
control, influence, or regulate (a person, action, or course of events):the future of Jamaica will be governed by geography not history
(govern oneself) conduct oneself, especially with regard to controlling one’s emotions:he does not have the ability to govern himself or others successfully
serve to decide (a legal case).
2 Grammar (of a word) require that (another word or group of words) be in a particular case:the Latin preposition ‘cum’ governs nouns in the ablative
