govern

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
govern /ˈgʌv(ə)n/

▶verb

• 1 conduct the policy and affairs of (a state, organization, or people).

  ■ control or influence.

• 2 constitute a rule, standard, or principle for.

  ■ serve to decide (a legal case).

• 3 Grammar (of a word) require that (another word or group of words) be in a particular case.

– derivatives
governability noun,
governable adjective.

– origin ME: from OFr. governer, from L. gubernare ‘to steer, rule’, from Gk kubernan ‘to steer’.