English
govern
Govern comes from Old French governer ‘to guide’, from Latin gubernō ‘to pilot, steer a ship’, and ultimately from Ancient Greek κυβερνάω.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEκυβερνάωkubernáō‘to steer, drive, govern’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEgubernō‘to pilot, steer a ship’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400governer‘to guide’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500governen‘to exercise political authority over’
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1587–1588govern
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEκυβερνάωkubernáō‘to steer, drive, govern’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEgubernō‘to pilot, steer a ship’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400governer‘to guide’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500governen‘to exercise political authority over’
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1587–1588govern
Earliest quotation: c. 1587–1588, Christopher Marlowe, Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […]: “from my vncles country of Medea, Where all my…”
Linked words
through Ancient Greek κύρβεις ‘turnable wooden cylinders’
through Ancient Greek κυβερνάω ‘to steer, drive, govern’
through Latin gubernō ‘to pilot, steer a ship’
Today it means
verb To make and administer the public policy and affairs of; to exercise sovereign authority in.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek κυβερνάω / govern