English Explanatory Dictionary

governor

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The chief executive officer of a first-level administrative division of a country.
  2. A device which regulates or controls some action of a machine through automatic feedback.
  3. A member of a decision-making body (such as a committee) for a larger organization or entity (including some public agencies), similar to or equivalent to a board of directors (used especially for banks); a member of the board of governors.
  4. Father.
  5. Boss; employer; gaffer.
  6. Term of address to a man; guv'nor.
  7. A constituent of a phrase that governs another.
  8. One who has the care or guardianship of a young man; a tutor; a guardian.
  9. A pilot; a steersman.
noun
  1. The title for someone who holds the post of governor.

Pronunciation

/ˈɡʌv(ə)nə(ɹ)/ /ˈɡʌvɚnɚ/ En-us-governor.ogg /ˈɡʌvənə(ɹ)/ /ˈɡʌvənɚ/

Word forms

governor governors gouernour gouvernor gouvernour governer governour guvnah guvnuh

Etymology

From Middle English governour, from Old French gouvreneur, from Latin gubernator, from Ancient Greek κυβερνήτης (kubernḗtēs, “steersman, pilot, guide”), from κυβερνάω (kubernáō, “to steer, to drive, to guide, to act as a pilot”), of disputed origin. By surface analysis, govern + -or. Doublet of gubernator.

Synonyms

viceroy proconsul bailiff seneschal intendant tao tai circuit intendant daotai provost gubernator

Related words

govern government governorate governor-general governor general gubernatorial Kubernetes self-govern

Derived words

archgovernor centrifugal governor cogovernor Governator governoress Governor Generoso governorly governorship gov gov. gov'nor guv guv'nor lieutenant governor subgovernor undergovernor
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