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Government \Gov"ern*ment\, n. 1. The act of governing; the exercise of authority; the administration of laws; control; direction; regulation; as, civil, church, or family government. <1913 Webster>
2. The mode of governing; the system of polity in a state; the established form of law. <1913 Webster>
That free government which we have so dearly purchased, free commonwealth. --Milton. <1913 Webster>
3. The right or power of governing; authority. <1913 Webster>
I here resign my government to thee. --Shak. <1913 Webster>
4. The person or persons authorized to administer the laws; the ruling power; the administration. <1913 Webster>
When we, in England, speak of the government, we generally understand the ministers of the crown for the time being. --Mozley & W. <1913 Webster>
5. The body politic governed by one authority; a state; as, the governments of Europe. <1913 Webster>
6. Management of the limbs or body. --Shak. <1913 Webster>
7. (Gram.) The influence of a word in regard to construction, requiring that another word should be in a particular case. <1913 Webster>
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