\Gov"ern*ment\, n. [F. gouvernement. See {Govern}.]
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 government to thee.  --Shak.
4. The person or persons authorized to administer the laws;
   the ruling power; the administration.
         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.) The influence of a word in regard to construction,
   requiring that another word should be in a particular
   case.