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A governess; a rectoress.

n of a body to powder; the reduction of things to order; the reduction of the expenses of government; the reduction of a rebellious province.

To elect again; as, to reëlect the former governor.

an officer, steward, bailiff, or governor; -- used chiefly in compounds; as, shirereeve, now written sheriff; portreeve, etc. Chaucer. Piers Plowman.

A diplomatic agent's note asking for instructions from his government concerning a particular matter or point.

defective, vicious, corrupt, or depraved; reformation; as, reform of elections; reform of government. Civil service reform. See under Civil. -- Reform acts (Eng. Politics), acts of Parliament passed in 1832, 1867, 1884, 1885, extending and equalizing popular representation in Parliament. -- Reform school, a school es…

To hold back; to restrain; to keep within prescribed bounds; to curb; to govern. His reson refraineth not his foul delight or talent. Chaucer. Refrain thy foot from their path. Prov. i. 15.

To give back; to repay; to restore. A governor, that had pillaged the people, was . . . sentenced to refund what he had wrongfully taken. L'Estrange.

The office of ruler; rule; authority; government.

Ruling; governing; regnant. "Some other active regent principle . . . which we call the soul." Sir M. Hale.

om the Duke of Orleans, Regent of France, to whom it was sold in 1717 by Pitt the English Governor of Madras (whence also called the Pitt diamond), who bought it of an Indian merchant in 1701.

Governable; tractable. [Obs.]

One of a body of officers charged with the government of Spanish municipalities, corresponding to the English alderman.

Direct management of public finance or public works by agents of the government for government account; -- opposed to the contract system.

Mode or system of rule or management; character of government, or of the prevailing social system. I dream . . . of the new régime which is to come. H. Kingsley.

Orderly government; system of order; adminisration. Hallam.

Government; mode of ruling; rule; authority; regimen. [Obs.] Spenser. "Regiment of health." Bacon. But what are kings, when regiment is gone, But perfect shadows in a sunshine day Marlowe. The law of nature doth now require of necessity some kind of regiment. Hocker.

To rule; to govern. [Obs.] "To regle their lives." Fuller.

Ruling; governing. [Obs.]

Governed by rule or rules; steady or uniform in course, practice, or occurence; not subject to unexplained or irrational variation; returning at stated intervals; steadily pursued; orderlly; methodical; as, the regular succession of day and night; regular habits.