Etymology

government

gov·ern·ment
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Today it means: The body with the power to make and/or enforce laws to control a country, land area, people or organization. Full definition →

Middle English governement ← Old French governement ← Latin gubernāre
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The story

  1. Ancient Greekκυβερνάω (kubernáō)
  2. Latingubernāre
  3. Old Frenchgoverner
  4. Old Frenchgovernement
  5. Middle Englishgovernement
  6. English todaygovernment

From Middle English governement, from Old French governement (modern French gouvernement), from governer (see govern) + -ment. Morphologically govern + -ment. Displaced native Old English gerec, leodweard, ræden, rǣding and ealdordōm.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.