Noah Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language

1. (v. t.) To direct and control, as the actions or conduct of men, either by established laws or by arbitrary will; to regulate by authority.

2. (v. t.) To regulate; to influence; to direct; to restrain; to manage; as, to govern the life; to govern a horse.

3. (v. t.) To require to be in a particular case; as, a transitive verb governs a noun in the objective case; or to require (a particular case); as, a transitive verb governs the objective case.

4. (v. i.) To exercise authority; to administer the laws; to have the control.