overgovern

present singular third person overgoverns · participle present overgoverning · participle past overgoverned · past overgoverned

1. ambitransitiveTo govern with too much rigidity or precision.

   In Europe, he says, we over-govern. The subjects of European governments would seem, according to his notion, to be brought into this world only to be licked and taxed.

   1833, Arthur Brooke Faulkner, Visit to Germany and the Low Countries in the Years 1829, 30, and 31

   1 more example

   He should not overgovern his neighbors and they should not overgovern him with countless laws calling for more clerks, more police and more rules and regulations and orders which few persons will obey.

   1924, Game Breeder and Sportsman, volumes 25-28, page 224