governable

[Eng. govern; -able.] 1. That may or can be governed, ruled, or managed; manageable, tractable, obedient. ""Only this I must acknowledge,' he mildly added; 'they were not governable.'"-Macaulay: Hist . Eng ., ch. v. 2. Pliable, manageable. "There is not a more tonsile and governable plant in nature."-Evelyn: On Forest Trees, ch. xxiii. gov-ern-a-ble-ne , s. [English governable; -ne .] The quality or state of being governable; tractability. "It is likely that governablene was not his strong point."- Saturday Review , Jan. 26, 1883, p. 120. *gov-ern-aille, *gov-ern-all, *gov-ern-ayl, ail , from Latin gubernaculum a rudder, from *gov-ern-ayle, s. [O. Fr. governail ; Fr. gouvern guberno to steer.J 1. A helm, a rudder. 2. Government, rule, authority, direction, man agement. "He of his gardin had the gouernale." Spenser: F. Q., II. xii. 48. gov'-ērn-ançe, *gov-ern-aunce, s. [French gouvernance.] 1. Government, rule, management, direction, regulation. "Jonathan took the governance upon him at that time." -1 Maccabees ix. 31. 2. Control, management, restraint. What; shall king Henry be a pupil still, Under the surly Gloster's governance?" Shakesp.: Henry VI ., Pt . II ., i. 3. 3. Behavior, manners. "Now schalle I telle you the governance of the court of the grete Cham."- Maundeville, p. 232.