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The act of governing; government [Obs.] I. Watts.

Governing. [Obs.]

Pertaining to a governor, or to government.

The act or result of guiding; the superintendence or assistance of a guide; direction; government; a leading. His studies were without guidance and without plan. Macaulay.

; as, the Stationers' Guild; the Ironmongers' Guild. They were originally licensed by the government, and endowed with special privileges and authority.

To guide; to govern. [Obs.] Discreet enough his country for to gye. Chaucer.

Government by a woman. Chesterfield.

Government by a woman, female power; gyneocracy. Bailey.

Female government; gynecocracy. The aforesaid state has repeatedly changed from absolute despotism to republicanism, not forgetting the intermediate stages of oligarchy, limited monarchy, and even gynocracy; for I myself remember Alsatia governed for nearly nine months by an old fishwoman. Sir H. Scott.…

A sacred government; by holy orders of men. Southey.

Government by a priesthood; hierarchy.

Suicide, by slashing the abdomen, formerly practiced in Japan, and commanded by the government in the cases of disgraced officials; disembowelment; -- also written, but incorrectly, hari-kari. W. E. Griffis.

Not sensible to the bit; not easily governed; as, a hard- mouthed horse.

A governor or prefect appointed by the Spartans in the cities subjugated by them.

Not easily restrained; ungovernable; obstinate; stubborn. Not let headstrong boy my will control. Dryden.

Willful; rash; precipitate; hurried on by will or passion; ungovernable. All the talent required is to be hot, to be heady, -- to be violent on one side or the other. Sir W. Temple.

; willing; also, energetic; active; eager; as, a hearty welcome; hearty in supporting the government. Full of hearty tears For our good father's loss. Marston.

The type of character of the Hebrews. The governing idea of Hebraism is strictness of conscience. M. Arnold.

ntil the 19th century, also in Cape Colony, a council to assist a local magistrate in the government of rural districts; hence, also, a member of such a council.

Leadership; preponderant influence or authority; -- usually applied to the relation of a government or state to its neighbors or confederates. Lieber.