governance (n.)

late 14c., "act or manner of governing," from Old French governance "government, rule, administration; (rule of) conduct" (Modern French gouvernance), from governer "to govern, rule, command" (see govern). Fowler writes that the word "has now the dignity of incipient archaism," but it might continue useful in its original sense as government comes to mean primarily "the governing power in a state."

Entries linking to governance

govern (v.)

late 13c., "to rule with authority," from Old French governer "steer, be at the helm of; govern, rule, command, direct" (11c., Modern French gouverner), from Latin gubernare "to direct, rule, guide, govern" (source also of Spanish gobernar, Italian governare), originally "to steer, to pilot," a nautical borrowing from Greek kybernan "to steer or pilot a ship, direct as a pilot," figuratively "to guide, govern" (the root of cybernetics). The -k- to -g- sound shift is perhaps via the medium of Etruscan. Intransitive sense from 1590s. Related: Governed; governing.

government (n.)

late 14c., "act of governing or ruling;" 1550s, "system by which a thing is governed" (especially a state), from Old French governement "control, direction, administration" (Modern French gouvernement), from governer "to steer, be at the helm of; govern, rule, command, direct," from Latin gubernare "to direct, rule, guide, govern," originally "to steer, to pilot"(see govern). Meaning "governing power" in a given place is from 1702. Compare governance.

misgovernance (n.)

"misbehavior, misconduct," also "misrule, bad government of a country or state," late 14c., misgovernaunce, from mis- (1) "bad, wrong" + governance.

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Definitions of governance

governance (n.)

the persons (or committees or departments etc.) who make up a body for the purpose of administering something;

the governance of an association is responsible to its members

Synonyms: administration / governing body / establishment / brass / organization / organisation

governance (n.)

the act of governing; exercising authority;

Synonyms: government / governing / government activity / administration

From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near governance

gourmet

gout

gouty

govern

governable

governance

governess

government

governmental

governmentalism

governor