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 goverment to thee. Shak.
4. The person or persons authorized to administer the laws; the ruling powe; the administratian. 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.)
Defn: The influence of a word in regard to construction, requiring that another word should be in a particular case.
GOVERNMENTAL
Gov"ern*men"tal, a. Etym: [Cf. F. gouveernemental.]
Defn: Pertaining to government; made by government; as, governmental duties.