The story
- Ancient Greek · derived fromκυβερνάω“to steer, drive, govern”
- Latin · derived fromgubernō
- Old French · derived fromgoverner
- Middle English · inherited fromgovernen
- English todaygovern
From Middle English governen, governe, from Anglo-Norman and Old French governer, guverner, from Latin gubernō, from Ancient Greek κυβερνάω (kubernáō, “to steer, drive, govern”). Displaced native Old English wealdan, whence modern dialectical English wald (“to govern”).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.