Gov"ern*ment (?), n. [F. gouvernement. See Govern.]
1. The act of governing; the exercise of authority; the administration of laws; control; direction; regulation; as, civil, church, or family government.
2.
The mode of governing; the system of
polity in a
state; the established form of law.
That
free government which we have
so dearly purchased, free commonwealth.
Milton.
3. The right or power of governing; authority.
I here resign
my government to thee.
Shak. 4. The person or persons authorized to administer the laws; the ruling power; the administration.
When we, in
England, speak of the government, we generally understand the ministers of the crown
for the time being.
Mozley & W. 5. The body politic governed by one authority; a state; as, the governments of
Europe.
6. Management of the limbs or body. Shak.
7.
(Gram.) The influence of a word in regard to construction, requiring that another word should be in a particular case.
Hear it pronounced