government (guvernment)

[Not in ME. (where the equiv. word was governance, q. v.); = Pg. It. govern a men to, see govern and -ment.] 1. Guidance; direc The house of God must have orders for the government of it, such as not any of the household but God himself hath appointed. Hooker , Eccles. Polity, iii. 11. Thy eyes' windows [shall] fall, Like death, when he shuts up the day of life; Each part, depriv'd of supple government, Shall, stiff, and stark, and cold, appear like death. Shak., R. and J., iv. 1. 2. The exercise of authority in the administration of the affairs of a state, community, or society; the authoritative direction and restraint exercised over the actions of men in communities, societies, or states. Why has government been instituted at all? Because governor with trade; governmental order; governmental policy. Upon the acce ion of the Han over i an dynasty, however, Governmental encouragement of literature almost absolutely ceased. Lecky, Eng. in 18th Cent., iii. There is no more po ibility of intervention, or of gov ern mental aid. Contemporary Rev. , LII. 731. Governmental theory of the atonement. See atone ment , 3 (a).