English
governer
Governer comes from Old French gouvreneur ‘governor’, from Latin gubernator ‘Helmsman or pilot of a boat’, and ultimately from Ancient Greek κυβερνάω.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEκυβερνάωkubernáō‘to steer, drive, pilot, to be a steersman’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEgubernō‘to pilot, govern’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEgubernator‘Helmsman or pilot of a boat’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400gouvreneur‘governor’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500governer
- Englishearliest quotation 1553same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEκυβερνάωkubernáō‘to steer, drive, pilot, to be a steersman’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEgubernō‘to pilot, govern’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEgubernator‘Helmsman or pilot of a boat’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400gouvreneur‘governor’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500governer
- Englishearliest quotation 1553same form
Earliest quotation: 1553, Erasmus Sarcerius, Set Forth with No Litle Laboure: “Fynallye the holye ghoſte maye alſo be ſayde a…”
Formed from govern + -er
Ancient Greek κυβερνάω ‘to steer, drive, govern’
Latin gubernō ‘to pilot, steer a ship’
Old French governer ‘to guide’
Middle English governen ‘to exercise political authority over’
English govern
Linked words
through Ancient Greek κύρβεις ‘turnable wooden cylinders’
through Ancient Greek κυβερνάω ‘to steer, drive, pilot, to be a steersman’
through Latin gubernator ‘Helmsman or pilot of a boat’
Today it means
noun —
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek κυβερνάω / governer