the act of governing; the exercise of authority; the administration of laws; control; direction; regulation; as, civil, church, or family government.-the mode of governing; the system of polity in a state; the established form of law.-the right or power of governing; authority.-the person or persons authorized to administer the laws; the ruling power; the administration.-the body politic governed by one authority; a state; as, the governments of europe.-management of the limbs or body.-the influence of a word in regard to construction, requiring that another word should be in a particular case.