Other forms: governing, governed, governs
To govern is to rule a country and make its decisions. Govern the country, fit to govern, govern by consent.
It covers the exercise of power rather than the winning of it, which is why parties are said to campaign in poetry and govern in prose. It also means to control or determine in a general way: the rules that govern the process, the law governing contracts. In grammar, a verb governs its object. Note governor, government; and that the Latin comes from the Greek for steering a ship.
1verbgovernTo rule a country and make its decisions.
“The party has governed the country for over twenty years.”
2verbcontrolTo control or determine something.
“The laws of physics govern how the planets move around the sun.”
govern is an act of ruling.
Latin gubernare comes from Greek kubernan, to steer a ship. Governor, government and cybernetics all come from the same steering, which is why leadership is described as being at the helm.
Ancient Greek
κυβερνάω — to steer, drive, govern
Latin
gubernō
Old French
governer
Middle English
governen
English, today
govern
From Middle English governen, governe, from Anglo-Norman - and Old French governer, guverner, from Latin gubernō, from Ancient Greek κυβερνάω (“to steer, drive, govern”). Displaced native Old English wealdan, whence modern dialectical English wald (“to govern”).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA