govern

I

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

v. rule, reign, administrate, preside; hold power, sway, or the reins; guide, control; restrain, moderate, temper, curb, bridle, check.

See restraint, authority.

II

(Roget's IV) v.

Syn. rule, command, administer, reign, legislate, oversee, hold dominion, hold sway, occupy the throne, assume command, hold office, serve the people, administer the laws, exercise authority, be in power, supervise, superintend, direct, dictate, lay down the law, tyrannize, wield the scepter*, wear the crown*, hold the reins of empire*.

Syn.- govern implies the exercise of authority in controlling the actions of the members of a body politic and directing the affairs of state, and generally connotes as its purpose the maintenance of public order and the promotion of the common welfare; rule now usually signifies the exercise of arbitrary or autocratic power; administer implies the orderly management of governmental or institutional affairs by executive officials

III

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus) v.

1. rule administer, direct, supervise, manage, oversee, dictate, run, reign, order, occupy the throne, regulate, *lay down the law, hold sway, *pull the strings, exercise authority.

2. hold in check curb, inhibit, bridle, restrain, control, arrest, regulate.

IV

(Roget's Thesaurus II) verb 1. To have charge of (the affairs of others): administer, administrate, direct, head, manage, run, superintend, supervise. See OVER. 2. To exercise the authority of a sovereign: reign, rule. Archaic: sway. Idiom: wear the crown (or purple). See OVER. 3. To keep the mechanical operation of (a device) within proper parameters: control, regulate. See CONTROL, MACHINE. 4. To exercise authority or influence over: control, direct, dominate, rule. Idioms: be at the helm, be in the driver's seat, hold sway over, hold the reins. See OVER.