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.
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