From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
government
n 1: the organization that is the governing authority of a
political unit; "the government reduced taxes"; "the matter
was referred to higher authorities" [syn: government,
authorities, regime]
2: the act of governing; exercising authority; "regulations for
the governing of state prisons"; "he had considerable
experience of government" [syn: government, governing,
governance, government activity, administration]
3: (government) the system or form by which a community or other
political unit is governed; "tyrannical government"
4: the study of government of states and other political units
[syn: politics, political science, government]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Government \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.
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2. The mode of governing; the system of polity in a state;
the established form of law.
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That free government which we have so dearly
purchased, free commonwealth. --Milton.
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3. The right or power of governing; authority.
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I here resign my government to thee. --Shak.
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4. The person or persons authorized to administer the laws;
the ruling power; the administration.
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When we, in England, speak of the government, we
generally understand the ministers of the crown for
the time being. --Mozley & W.
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5. The body politic governed by one authority; a state; as,
the governments of Europe.
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6. Management of the limbs or body. --Shak.
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7. (Gram.) The influence of a word in regard to construction,
requiring that another word should be in a particular
case.
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