| 释义 |
governmentn. Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French government. Etymology: < Anglo-Norman government, guvernement, Anglo-Norman and Middle French governement, gouvernement (French gouvernement ) political rule, exercise of political power (c1170 in Old French), action or manner of directing people or things (end of the 12th cent.), good conduct or behaviour, self-control (c1270 or earlier; late 14th cent. in sense ‘conduct, behaviour (whether good or bad)’), office or function of governor (early 14th cent. or earlier), medical treatment (a1365 or earlier), act of governance, administration (late 14th cent. or earlier), management (late 14th cent.), action of steering or navigating a ship (late 14th cent.), geographical area over which a governor has authority (1462), (in plural) rules or constitutions collectively (1463), physical conduct (1558, in the passage translated in quot. ?1566 at sense 3b, or earlier), political structure of a state (1588) < governer , gouverner govern v. + -ment -ment suffix. Compare earlier governance n., and (with the use in sense 1d) earlier govern n. and the foreign-language forms cited at that entry.Compare Spanish †governamiento (first half of the 13th cent.; also †gobernamiento ). In sense 2c after governess n. 2b. In sense 9 after Russian gubernija , first-level administrative division of Russia in 1708–1929 ( < gubern- (in gubernator gubernator n.) + -ia -ia suffix1). Compare governorate n. 1. I. General senses, relating to actions with direct or controlling influence, or to the exercise of personal authority. 1. ?c1400 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius (BL Add. 10340) (1868) ii. pr. vii. l. 1493 Men myȝten speke or writen of his goode gouernement. ?1483 W. Caxton tr. i. sig. aviiv Euery man that hath ony gouernemente or rewle vpon his householde is bounden to hit in thre maners. 1547 Bp. S. Gardiner 30 Aug. (1933) 277 I kepe my wont to write to your Grace now, in whose hands I know the estate of the realm to be fortime in government. 1561 tr. sig. B.vii There be Sermons of repentaunce, whych not wythstandynge they that are destitut of the gouernment of the word of god do take neuer the latter. ?1566 J. Alday tr. P. Boaistuau sig. H iv b A king or a prince..that hath under his governement so manye thousands of men. 1624 T. Heywood i. 25 These Goddesses..as they are opiniated, have the government of children in their infancie. 1663 E. Waterhouse xlii. 488 No wife recalcitrates the government of her husband whom she is presumed to have chosen and voluntarily to have pledged her faith to. 1708 S. Hill Preface 30 Every Man's maturity of Reason must be at least equal up to a certain Point, before he can claim this Liberty against the Government of his Parents. 1726 Bp. J. Butler iv. 67 The Government of the Tongue..relates chiefly to Conversation. 1758 S. Hayward i. 4 We are all under its [sc. sin's] power and government. 1790 E. Burke 137 All who administer in the government of men..should have high and worthy notions of their function and destination. View more context for this quotation 1836 C. Wislez Let. 18 Jan. in (1909) I. ii. 337 I have been seriously ill lately, and am still under the Doctor's governement. 1847 2 99/2 [He] was extremely stern and determined in the government of his children, especially of his sons. 1849 T. B. Macaulay II. vi. 88 The Dean was charged with the government of a..number of youths of high connections. 1859 Ld. Tennyson Enid in 56 They..[sc. horses], like creatures gently born..felt Her low firm voice and tender government. 1958–9 J. R. R. Tolkien (1981) 293 But the government of a ‘family’..was not a monarchy (except by accident). 2010 M. Dean (ed. 2) i. 27 All practices of government of self or others presuppose some goal or end to be achieved. society > authority > rule or government > [noun] > action or act of ?c1400 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius (BL Add. 10340) (1868) i. pr. vi. l. 688 Þou hast forȝeten by whiche gouernementȝ þe worlde is gouerned. 1644 W. Lilly To Rdr. sig. Ajv The Government of the World by the seven Planetary Angels under the severall Trygonicall Revolutions of Saturne and Iupiter. 1728 E. Chambers Hylegial Places, among Astrologers, are such, in which, when a Planet happens to be set, it may be said to be fit to have the Government of Life attributed thereto. 1810 C. T. Watkins at Helm The movements of the tiller to the right and left, accordingly direct the efforts of the rudder to the government of the ship's course as she advances. society > authority > control > [noun] > direction 1556 M. Huggarde f. 69 Matrones, which..are contented to applie their mindes to the gouernement of houshold matters. 1666 P. Henry (1882) 184 That the Governmt of the Church of Christ ought to bee manag'd by the Ministers of Christ. 1758 J. Mackenzie i. xvii. 293 Calculated rather to obtrude particular nostrums, than to give prudent rules for the government of health. 1847 xxvi. 772 Such rules of discipline as are or may be hereafter laid down for the government of horse artillery. 1883 M. Oliphant II. i. 11 The idea that Hester..might have had something to say in the government of the bank, struck her as if some one had given her a blow. 1909 Jan. 22/2 Hygiene is a department of sanitary science that lays down laws for the government of health. 1576 J. Daniel tr. J. Pérez xxxiii. f. 156v The people of Israell (which are as a myrrour or glasse for vs to looke in so, for the gouernement & guyding of our humaine liues). 1694 P. Wall Let. in J. Praed 7 The said Anselm did desire to know.., where he could raise Men in Cornwal, for the Late King James, and what Number: So (for your Government,) you may use your own Discretion. 1712 J. Arbuthnot ix. 16 If she submits to my Government, she will be abroad in a little time. 1796 L. Murray (ed. 2) 108 Examples..which may serve as some government to the scholar. 1900 at Government Please send me, for my government, a copy of your correspondence with Mr. A. society > authority > control > [noun] > management or administration 1587 L. Mascall Epist. sig. A3v The gouernment of cattell. 1660 R. Sharrock 22 The whole government and husbandry of hemp from the seed to the distaffe is like this of flax. a1667 A. Cowley Agric. in (1668) 101 Rural Oeconomy..would contain the Government of Bees, Swine, Poultry [etc.]. 1727 B. Langley vii. i. 40 I gave them an equal Attendance in every part of their Government. 2. society > authority > rule or government > [noun] c1450 ( J. Walton tr. Boethius (Linc. Cathedral 103) 31 (MED) A blissfull þing..if þat thise þat vsen gouernement In wisdom wolde dispende þaire besynesse. 1584 H. Llwyd & D. Powel 69 The rule and Gouernment of North Wales. 1590 E. Spenser i. x. sig. K2 The first..Of all the house had charge and gouernement, As Guardian and Steward of the rest. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iv. vii. 24 I here resigne my Gouernment to thee. View more context for this quotation 1685 R. Baxter Matt. x. 2 Peter had a priority, though no Government over the rest. 1727 D. Defoe i. i. 19 Prometheus obtain'd the Government of a Part of Armenia. 1850 C. Anthon 132 While Julian held the government of Gaul under Constantius, the environs of Lugdunum were ravaged. 1872 J. L. Sanford 333 He would learn..to look upon government as an absolute function of the Sovereign. 1927 IV. 775/2 Muhammad..held the government of Sarakhs, which he retained after his father's death. 2001 T. Pálosfalvi tr. P. Engel (2005) vii. 106 As compensation for the loss of Styria [Duke Stephen] was given the government of Transylvania. society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > [noun] > position or function of 1617 F. Moryson ii. 68 Hee..had made offer to resigne the gouernement he had in the Prouince of Connaght. 1647 C. Cotterell & W. Aylesbury tr. E. C. Davila i. 19 Those few small Governments which yet remained in their Family. 1700 J. Tyrrell II. 915 He was..perswaded..to accept the Government of Dover Castle. 1769 W. Draper in ‘Junius’ (1772) I. iv. 40 My silence may have been purchased by my government. 1803 G. Mason 4 He was sent for education first to Westminster school, when his father went to Barbadoes as governor of that island—having been appointed to his government in May 1732. society > education > teaching > teacher > [noun] > professional teacher > governess > in position of 1653 F. G. tr. ‘G. de Scudéry’ I. ii. ii. 96 As my mother had the honor of that great Queens love, she moved the King her husband, to confer the Government of the Princess Araminta upon her. 1804 G. Rose (1860) II. 196 Lady Pembroke had been offered the government of the Princess Charlotte. 3. the world > action or operation > behaviour > [noun] > in moral aspect the world > action or operation > behaviour > way of life > [noun] c1450 tr. G. Deguileville (Cambr.) (1869) 158 (MED) Thou art thanne..thing that hast no techinge ne gouernement [Fr. gouvernement] in thee. 1484 W. Caxton tr. G. de la Tour-Landry (1971) xx. 40 The good knyght..was wyse, and of grete gouernement in repreuyng of the lady. 1561 H. Bennet tr. O. Mykonius in sig. D.ivv We couet not ye bloud of any lyuing creature, & abhorre the effusion of the same in thys commocion: but our whole entent is to interrupte the licencious gouernment of some. 1562 W. Ward tr. G. Ruscelli f. 26v If the thyng be growen to an vlcer, either by the foly of the Phisition, or els by the euill gouernement of the Pacient [etc.] 1596 E. Spenser iv. v. sig. E4v Whose beauties wonderment She lesse esteem'd, then th'others vertuous gouernment . View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare (1622) iii. iii. 261 Feare not my gouernement . View more context for this quotation 1633 J. Ford i. sig. B v How did the Vniversity applaud Thy Gouernment, Behauiour, Learning, Speech. 1639 T. B. tr. J.-P. Camus Certain Moral Relations in S. Du Verger tr. J.-P. Camus 319 He tooke into his house one of his sisters, a maid of government and judgement. 1923 J. Read ii. 84 The man had no more gover'ment than a whirdlygig; no matter where a did point one minute, a puff o' wind wur enough to zet en off in a new direction the next. the world > movement > bodily movement > [noun] > management of c1485 ( G. Hay (1993) xxiv. 99 Quhat euer a man les of his blude..the vertuous sesoun with gude nutrimentis and gouernementis restoris naturaly all agayne. ?1566 J. Alday tr. P. Boaistuau sig. E ij Here you may see his life and gouernement [Fr. gouuernement], whilst he is inclosed in his mothers wombe. 1590 E. Spenser i. ix. sig. H6v Their God himselfe..Shott many a dart at me with fiers intent, But I them warded all with wary gouernment. 1601 R. Chester 96 Running, vaulting, and Actiuitie, And other exercise of gouernement. 1612 in R. F. Williams (1849) (modernized text) I. 203 The disease..must have its ordinary course, and the less physic the better, but only sweating, and an orderly course of keeping and government. society > travel > travel by water > directing or managing a ship > [noun] 1562 A. Brooke tr. M. Bandello f. 39 Sometimes the beaten boate, by cunning gouernment... Doth win the long desyred porte. 1583 P. Barrough Pref. sig. *vv He hath forsaken the quiet hauen, and launched out into the rough seas, and hath taken vpon him the gouernment of the ship. 1699 J. Potter II. iii. xiv. 133 All the three Ways of Government [of Ships], viz. by Sail, Oar, and Cords, were upon occasion made use of. the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > syntax or word order > syntactic relations > [noun] > government 1569 W. Haywarde tr. A. Guarna sig. F.vi We appoint that the Participle..haue the gouernement of the verbe before hym first, and that of the Noune after him last. 1651 J. Shirley 127 Government, or Construction. Every word is commonly governed of that which goeth next before. 1762 R. Lowth (1838) 157 Adverbs have no government. 1795 L. Murray 112 This position of the pronoun sometimes occasions its proper case and government to be neglected. 1804 L. Murray (ed. 9) iii. 183 Participles have the same government as the verbs have from which they are derived. 1859 H. Alford IV. i. (Heb. ix. 15) 173 The severing of a genitive in government from its governing noun is not uncommon in our Ep[istle]. 1965 28 227 In such a circumstance, reciprocal government is assumed: the determined noun requires that the determining one be in the genitive. 1992 90 4 It is interesting that the variation between Gothic and Greek in case government relates to the internal semantic structure of the same three prepositionally-governed cases: accusative, genitive and dative. II. Senses related to the exercise of political authority, influence, or control. 6. ?c1400 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius (BL Add. 10340) (1868) i. pr. iv. l. 275 For þat þe gouernementes of comune citees y-left in þe hondes of felonous tourmentours Citiȝenis ne scholde not brynge inne pestilence and destruccioun to goode folk. 1474 W. Caxton tr. (1883) ii. i. 20 He ought alleway thenke on the gouernement of the Royame and who hath thadmynystracion of Justice. 1561 G. Gilby in G. Gilby tr. Cicero sig. B.vv (note) The felicitie of the subiectes is the ende of gouernement. 1604 C. Edmondes II. vi. ix. 28 Gouernment is defined, to be an establishing of order best fitting the maintenance of a people, in a peaceable and happie life. 1700 S. Patrick Paraphr. Ecclesiastes i, in 12 All Government is so full of cares, perplexities, and impediments, that..he would rather die than be promoted to it. 1789 J. Bentham vii. §1 The business of government is to promote the happiness of the society by punishing and rewarding. 1841 E. Miall in 1 1 At present we have government in excess. 1861 J. S. Mill i. 1 Government..is a problem to be worked like any other question of business. 1895 J. Morley in 30 May 2/1 All government is difficult. 1917 T. Roosevelt Let. 10 Jan. in 172 Everything is un-American that tends either to government by a plutocracy or government by a mob. 1969 V. Bartlett v. 70 The masses..had no say whatsoever in the government of their country. 2002 23 Sept. 13/3 There is no slot less rewarding than that of becoming PM at the end of a long period of government by your own party. society > authority > rule or government > [noun] > by a person or body ?c1400 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius (BL Add. 10340) (1868) i. pr. v. l. 563 Ȝif þou remembre of what contre þou art born, it nis not gouerned by emperoures, ne by gouernement of multitude. 1558 P. Morwen tr. A. ben David ibn Daud f. xxxvii The lorde God wold you shuld be afflicted & punished by the gouernement of the Romaynes. 1559 J. Aylmer (title) An harborowe for faithfull and trewe subiectes, agaynst the late blowne blaste, concerninge the government of wemen. 1656 T. Blount Demonicratie, the Government of divels. 1759 W. Robertson I. ii. 79 The government of a Queen was unknown in Scotland. 1790 R. Gray (1792) 125 The government of the Judges may be conceived to have continued..to the twenty-first year of Samuel's judicature. 1809 E. S. Barrett I. 39 May we not see in them the handwriting on the wall,..the end of the government of light-weight princes? 1879 A. H. Edgren tr. V. Rydberg iv. 175 Never has there been a time when a divine and universal government was so much despaired of as in the Middle Ages. 1926 M. R. Dobie tr. A. Jardé iv. i. 243 Even when a Greek city accepted the government of a tyrant, the master which it gave itself refused to consider his fellow-citizens as slaves. 1996 I. Galbraith & K. Williams tr. R.-M. Hagen & R. Hagen II. 74/3 Disaster was all that could be expected from the government of a woman, nay, a foreigner. society > authority > rule or government > [noun] > period of society > authority > office > [noun] > period of office 1550 T. Nicolls tr. Thucydides vi. x. f. clixiii Pysystratus hadde sometyme bene harde and cruell about the ende of hys gouernement [Fr. domination]. 1617 F. Moryson ii. 2 The time of my owne being in Ireland, in the Lord Mountjoy his Governement. 1664 in G. Miege (1669) 289 I..shall pray to God to bless your Majesty with a long and happy Government. 1782 Aug. 479/2 Sir Thomas Rumbold said that these debts had not been created during his government. 1831 J. V. L. McMahon I. iii. 260 During his short government, he appears to have retained the confidence and affection of the colony. 1835 22 Jan. 29/2 Neither threw himself into the hands of the emancipists, like Sir Thomas Brisbane at the close of his government. 1853 B. C. Clark 34 It was during the government of Boyer that the Spanish or Dominican part of the Island was united with the French part. 1917 69 6 During the long government of General Diaz the Catholic clergy..recovered much of its temporal power. 1992 Dec. 104/2 During the government of Virgillo Barco..those who really governed the country were the police. 7. society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > a or the government > [noun] society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > a or the government > [noun] > a particular government or the administration a1544 R. Barlow tr. M. Fernández de Enciso (1932) 39 [In Parys] resideth the councell and governement of all the realme [Sp. el parlamento e consejo que goviernan a todo el reyno]. ?1689 T. S. 7 That Men be permitted to undermine the Government, pull down Episcopacy, or deprive them of their antient Right of Sitting and Voting as Peers of the Realm. 1702 N. Luttrell Diary in (1857) V. 212 The government yet has not any account of it. 1788 J. L. de Lolme 32 Government at length resorted to anew expedient. 1801 Bp. Tomline in Earl Stanhope (1861) II. 395 A Roman Catholic Bill, which Government stands pledged to Ireland to introduce into the Imperial Parliament. 1828 Visct. Palmerston Let. 18 Jan. in H. L. Bulwer (1871) I. v. 217 The Duke of Wellington has been employed since..the 9th in taking steps to reorganize the Government. 1861 J. S. Mill xviii. 330 In all questions between a government and an individual, the presumption in every Englishman's mind is, that the government is in the wrong. 1868 M. E. Grant Duff 17 The Liberal Government..is neither so strong nor so wisely composed as we might wish. 1880 4 The Indian Government is the greatest manufacturer in the world. 1888 J. Bryce I. 119 In America people usually speak of the President and his ministers as the ‘administration’, not as the ‘government’. 1925 Apr. 3/3 Our courts are rotten and ruled by grafters. Our government is worse. 1953 Earl Winterton xxiv. 345 The Government of that day..had assured us and the nation at large that it was ‘a war to end war’. 1994 P. D. James iv. 30 They'll hype the memoirs as if their disclosures could bring down the Government. 1787 in B. H. Hall (1851) 149 The Government of college met, And Willard ruled the stern debate. 1812 in B. Peirce (1833) App. 87 The two Boards, which constitute the college-government. 1837 9 347 I am sorry to inform you, that the government deem it expedient that you should spend a few months in the country. 1851 B. H. Hall 149 Tutors, who are styled the Government, or the College Government. society > authority > rule or government > a or the system of government > [noun] 1553 J. Brende tr. Q. Curtius Rufus iv. f. 48 He passed..vnto the inwarde partes of Egypt, and set a staie and order of the gouerment of the countrey. 1588 ‘M. Marprelate’ 2 The Church gouerment prescribed in the worde. 1605 W. Camden i. 2 Governement Ecclesiasticall and Civill. 1660 J. Milton 3 Depriving our selves the instant fruition of that free government which we have so dearly purchasd. a1698 W. Temple (1699) 9 Their Government was like that of the ancient Gauls, of several small Nations under several petty Princes. 1733 A. Pope iii. 303 For Forms of Government let Fools contest. 1735 Visct. Bolingbroke (ed. 2) 142 A Government by Will, never prevail'd in Britain. 1748 T. Gray Let. 9 Mar. in (1971) I. 317 The three sorts of government, Despotism, the limited Monarchic, & the Republican. 1769 W. Robertson II. vi. 448 But Loyola..appointed that the government of his order should be purely monarchical. 1771 ‘Junius’ (1772) II. xlvii. 176 The government of England is a government of law. 1809 S. T. Coleridge 28 Sept. 99 Government must have originated in Choice and an Agreement. 1874 G. Bancroft i. 43 Government, in early times, was very imperfectly organized. 1915 T. C. Nixon v. 125 Only rich countries can afford democratic government. 1967 May 28/1 No country has moved so far in the past five years toward popular acceptance of communist government. 2010 11 July 51/1 Robin came up with the concept of futarchy, a form of government in which prediction markets would be used to determine the viability of various policies. society > authority > rule or government > territorial jurisdiction or areas subject to > territory under a governor or official > [noun] society > authority > rule or government > territorial jurisdiction or areas subject to > an administrative division of territory > [noun] > large or culturally distinct division 1554 W. Prat tr. J. Boemus sig. F.viiv Al Egypt is deuyded into diuers gouernementes [Fr. gouuernemens], euery one of them by a name, constituted a gouernour who hath the charge of all thyngs. 1603 Sir D. Carleton in H. Ellis (1824) 1st Ser. III. 82 Which was payde owt of his goverment of Jersy. 1617 F. Moryson i. 245 To make a present to a Cady, returning from his governement to Constantinople. 1624 N. De Lawne tr. P. Du Moulin 54 As when we divide..France into seventeene governments. 1700 J. Dryden tr. Ovid Baucis & Philemon in 156 To Phrygian Realms, my Grandsire's Government. 1705 J. Addison Ded. sig. A2 When I pass'd through most of the Protestant Governments in Europe. 1710 C. Whitworth (1758) 53 In 1710, the Czar..divided the Empire into eight governments. 1759 E. Wheelock in F. Chase (1891) I. 6 I was upon the same road to New Haven when that Doctor passed through this government. 1840 C. Thirlwall VII. 127 The governments west of the Euphrates. 1894 24 Mar. 5/3 The manufacture of Russian lace..is spread over many governments. 1914 16 Aug. 5/5 An aeroplane was damaged and brought down in the Suvalki Government. 1935 B. W. Maxwell i. i. 30 Russia, before the Revolution, was divided for purposes of administration into seventy-eight governments (guberniya), twenty-one regions (oblast), and one circuit (okrug). 1997 June 3/3 (advt.) First published in 1772, this map shows the area [of Scandinavia] divided into provinces and governments. 1654 (Wing C7170D) 43 As the Government doth express, you may make any Laws; and if I give not my Consent within twenty dayes, to the Passing your Lawes, they are ipso facto Laws, whether I consent, or no, if not contrary to the Government. 1654 No. 156. 1245 This day was extant the Government of this Commonwealth by his Highness special commandement. society > trade and finance > stocks and shares > stocks, shares, or bonds > [noun] > bond > types of bond 1870 M. H. Smith 83 A special chamber is assigned for the sale of governments. 1877 Dec. 37/1 On 5000 governments which I hold, I have received $166. 1885 30 Apr. 1/3 Money Steady—Governments Firmer—Stocks Higher. 2003 A. H. Meltzer I. 203 The governors voted to defy the Board by purchasing long-term governments to increase earnings. Phrases1766 C. Lloyd 22 It is not possible, but that this Nobleman..must have contracted his Political Friendships and Dislikes; but the moment the forming a Government came in view, he divested himself of both. 1793 L. P. Rosse 26 Men may therefore, if they please, when they form a government, form it with the hereditary honours, privileges, and pre-eminencies. 1842 N. D. Maillard ii. 60 Guerrero, immediately after he had abdicated the presidency, formed a government in opposition to Bustamante. 1845 27 Dec. 1317/1 After the noble lord had formally accepted the Queen's commission to form a government. 1942 C. Headlam Diary 13 Oct. in S. Ball (1999) ix. 337 I am told that he [sc. Shinwell] refused an under-secretaryship when Winston formed his government. 1961 A. Hosain iii. xviii. 262 Congress commands a majority, and will be asked to form a government. It is nothing short of a revolution. 2013 6 June 38/3 The NLD will not have the chance of forming a government until after a general election scheduled for 2015. Compounds C1. (In sense 7.) a. 1763 June 315/2 So zealous were the people now become, for the support of every government measure. 1825 17 Feb. 4/1 In two instances the contributions include government grants. 1855 H. H. Wilson p. ix In Karnáta, kul is a payer of government revenue. 1876 July 79/2 The incurable looseness of the Premier's statements, and the general flaccidity of the government programme, must be irritating in the last degree. 1891 29 July 4/3 A determined effort was to be made to reduce the government expenditures. 1908 Mar. 668 Under government aid permanent schools could be established. 1938 3 Oct. 37/3 Management leaders representing the world's democratic countries agreed that free enterprise, not government control, is the key to better times. 1959 M. W. Leiserson ii. 17 The process..of meeting and conferring with representatives of the various government ministries..until a program was developed. 1975 9 Mar. 16/4 The Federal Reserve Board increased the money supply to offset the pressure of government borrowing. 1991 J. Kingdom xi. 187 The Public Expenditure Survey Committee (PESC) process..fixes the expenditure levels of all government programmes. 2008 Nov. 138/1 The free-market fundamentalists—who believe in the miracles of markets—have not been adverse to accepting government bailouts. (b) 1772 63/1 T. Scammel; now in America on the government account. 1809 A. Henry 58 A clerk, who managed the Indian trade here, on government account. 1995 21 Oct. 7/3 In some cases, cadres simply claim possession by writing the property off government accounts. 1827 P. Cunningham II. xxxiii. 313 It..renders..government-acts less liable to be made objects of personal cavil or animosity. 1993 B. Schwartz (1995) xiv. 324 The Court ruled that proof that a government act has a disproportionate impact upon racial minorities is not enough to show a violation of equal protection. 1814 tr. G. H. von Langsdorff II. xviii. 378 At Markofski..is a government agency, not very long established. 1937 12 6 Boondoggling became the current term for describing the waste assertedly evident in..government agencies and bureaus. 2010 E. McKenzie in S. Blandy et al. iv. 69 There was no government agency responsible for enforcing all these dictates. 1735 W. Pulteney Let. 22 Nov. in J. Swift (1965) IV. 436 Four and twenty bishops and sixteen Scotch lords,..and all the government boroughs. 1861 T. E. May I. i. 15 The king..wrested government boroughs from the ministers. 1995 S. S. Webb (1998) i. 48 He had been elected in March to a government borough, Newport, Isle of Wight, administered by his old commander. 1917 18 June 7/2 Special show-cards..so that the public will know that they are buying Government cheese and getting it at a moderate price. 1921 5 Mar. 12/6 Government cheese has met with a good demand at 1s. 4d. per lb. to the retailer, to retail at 1s. 8d. 1934 19 July 2/3 If we feel that to carry out our regulations we must require all federal surplus relief cheese to be marked with our grades,..the government cheese going out under these contracts would partly be marked state brand and partly standard. 1982 14 Apr. c3/1 President Reagan ordered that the nation's needy be given thousands of tons of surplus government cheese. 2003 76 716 Welfare-state-devotees fearing the loss of their dependent constituencies once they..shake their dependency on government cheese. 2010 ‘Jay-Z’ iii. 154 We grow up knowing people who pay for everything with little plastic cards—Medicare cards for checkups, EBT cards for food... We stand for hours waiting for bricks of government cheese. 1767 21 Sept. 1/4 The Dock-yards, Victualling-office, Custom-house, Barracks, and every other government department, were used to engage the electors. 1845 J. R. McCulloch ii. viii. 309 A mere charge by one government department against others. 1941 15 Feb. 209/2 The actual handling of news items [by the B.B.C.] is subject to ‘directives’ or advice from Government departments. 2011 F. Sartor v. 99 All treasuries, by the nature of their function, attract a degree of criticism and resentment from government departments. 1734 56 If the Electors be corrupted with Government Money, that choice may be made of such as shall be propos'd to them, without Regard to their Qualifications. 1865 Rep. Select Comm. Educ. 328/1 in (H.C. 403) VI. 1 I do not see that the education of the people can be accomplished without Government money, and I do not think that Government money can be given by any means but by strict Government superintendence. 2009 15 June a12/1 Increasingly, companies big and small are competing on the basis of their ability to tap government money. 1813 10 Apr. 2/4 It was a question involving..the highest consideration of Government policy. 1906 11 Jan. 4/1 In the King's Speech will be indicated some of the salient points of the government policy. 2004 M. Over et al. iv. 66 In the absence of government policy, the quality of unstructured health care will decline as it spreads. 1772 H. Swinden viii. 306 50 barrels of powder at the government price. 1837 H. Martineau II. 87 The soldiers have disposed of their lands much under the government price. 1984 (Nexis) 4 Dec. a1/1 Government prices now often exceed those of the market, resulting in unwanted surpluses and large Government payments to farmers. ?1785 37 Had he been bound to the West Indies, and had met with the said Four Ships at Sea, he should have thought..the Cargoes Government Property. 1832 G. Downes I. 489 A quantity of government property has been destroyed by the inundation. 2004 J. Hawkins 243 ‘You've no right to do this,’ protests Buzzer. ‘This is government property. I demand you call the American consul.’ 1793 G. F. Greville II. 483 Indemnifying Zemindars by the government rents. 1827 P. Cunningham II. xxxiii. 334 The internal taxes and government rents are collected by a colonial treasurer. 1891 May 180 It is the poverty of society,..high taxation with bad government spending which increase poverty. 1958 13 June 761/1 The demands of the welfare-statists in Congress for increased Government spending and tax cuts are now only occasionally heard. 2011 J. A. Reyes & W. C. Sawyer xi. 285 Government spending in many cases was being cut in order to obtain fiscal balance. 1755 E. Wade 10 The Prices given the last War for Government Timber. 1803 2 39 Reserving the best timber on the estates as government-timber. 2004 W. G. Robbins 171 The report..recommended ‘a virtual revolution’ in the management and sale of government timber. b. 1762 4 Sept. 5/2 Some government contractors have orders to bring in their accounts, to the treasury, by a fixed day. 1796 May 330/1 Many vexations must also arise from men having their affairs exposed to a Government commissioner. 1836 W. Beattie II. 29 In every prefecture, or provincial jurisdiction, a magistrate..is the government representative. 1848 10 397 By an improved scale of diet, and by every ship carrying a government surgeon, nearly all of the above sickness, mortality, and expense, might be avoided. 1890 11 July 6/5 Mr. W. H. Smith, the government leader, stated that..the government would not proceed with the standing order. 1931 12 Feb. 1/4 Government employees, charged with being members of a ring that racketeered in civil service positions. 1969 13 Dec. 819/2 Government spokesmen have sought to counter critics of the present defence policy. 1987 A. Nickon & E. F. Silversmith xi. 148 The government scientists simply mixed the borinic acid..with the hydroxylamine. 2013 K. Jensen xi. 246 The government representative hints that if she reduces her price by another 3 percent, he can guarantee that the transportation director will sign the contract. (b) 1783 7 The government-candidates have usually had about 120 votes by the connections of the customs and excise. 1812 39 177 The agent of the Government-Candidates. 2012 (Nexis) 13 Aug. 8 Venezuela's president..has been accused of..selecting military men ahead of civilians to run as government candidates in state elections. 1798 A. Crichton II. iii. 201 Mr. Glave, an Aulic counsellor, and government minister,..says, that the unfortunate man sent his wife to church. 1850 14 Oct. 5/3 Messages were forwarded..to the different Government Ministers. 1978 Jan. 48/2 Prince Gabheni..and K.H. Dlamini, a government minister, arrived in pin-striped suits. 2000 B. Bryson (2001) v. 76 Two government ministers were suing a publisher over a book containing scurrilous..allegations. 1821 2 373 This expression is never witnessed in government officials. 1956 10 Oct. 12/3 Some of our government officials get carried away with the thought of spending $156 million. 2004 H. Kennedy (2005) v. 128 I have frequently criticised judges for their hidebound attitudes to women or their unwillingness to see how the system discriminates, but I am not a government official. 1799 J. Taylor II. 198 In the want of those officers having occasion for express conveyance, they are directed to signify such necessity to the Government Secretary. 1827 P. Cunningham II. xxxiii. 334 To a government secretary residing in the colony is consigned all epistolary correspondence. 2009 (Nexis) 31 Dec. As government secretary he led officials in the negotiations leading up to the 1985 Anglo Irish Agreement. c. Objective. 1809 2 Dec. 842 They would rather fail in their enterprises, than suffer any under their authority to meddle with the work of government-making in Spain. 1905 30 Dec. 2/2 Government-making is a great sport for the public. 2011 H. Abbas et al. v. 97 The growing requirements of coalition politics and government-making..have blurred the difference between government and opposition in the Legislature. d. Instrumental. 1846 E. Baines Let. 9 Oct. in (1847) 105 A plan like that of Dr. Hook..would commit the education of the people to the Government and a Government-appointed and totally irresponsible Squirearchy. 1963 Rep. Comm. Inq. Decimal Currency i. 1 in (Cmnd. 2145) XI. 195 Following reports in 1959 by Government-appointed committees, Australia will adopt a decimal currency in 1966. 2008 4 Aug. (Business section) b8/2 The Government-appointed court that deals with union recognition disputes has taken the highly unusual step of amending one of its judgments. 1908 Mar. 619/2 Nothing could shake the confidence of the people in a ‘government-backed’ bank. 1951 A. L. Rowse iv. 116 The Merchant Adventurers, the great government-backed body of exporters. 2009 (Nexis) 6 Apr. 6 On one hand, Government support is being promised to the Post Office network but on the other, government-backed business is being taken away. 1853 152 Every elementary teacher being a Government certificated teacher. 1909 11 Oct. 4/1 Four..Government-certificated schoolmistresses answered an advertisement. 2010 (Nexis) 10 Mar. The ministry..believes liquor manufacturers will be able to launch differentiated marketing strategies, while improving consumer trust in government-certificated products. 1835 S. F. B. Morse App. D. 145 Where are our sympathies, when the interested statements of a government-controlled foreign press, inform us of the struggles of the people against age-consecrated oppression. 1964 M. Gowing xii. 329 Everyone agreed that a Government-controlled Experimental Establishment should be created. 2009 14 Feb. (Business section) b5/1 Government-controlled mortgage finance companies said yesterday they have immediately suspended all foreclosure sales. 1918 19 Oct. 7/1 The means or mediums through which Government-directed publicity is diffused. 2006 18 Oct. a20/1 In the mid-1990s, Beijing's policy makers realized that government-directed lending wasn't compatible with a rapidly expanding capitalist economy. 1913 953 115/1 Private enterprise has taken over many of the Government-financed plants. 2005 23 June a14/4 The president emphasized a proposal he made in April for government-financed ‘risk insurance’. 1825 Papers Melioration Condition Slave Population 206 in (H.C. 008) XXVI. 205 Interest (at the average rate of Government funded securities) shall be allowed upon every sum of money. 1906 W. Willis-Bund & W. Page II. 423/2 John Millard directed that a sum should be raised out of his personal estate sufficient to produce £5 yearly when laid out in Government funded property. 2011 14 Feb. 44/3 Dwight Eisenhower..presided over the post-Sputnik boom in government-funded scientific research. 1937 6 221/1 An 8% dividend..was declared for private shareholders, and a dividend of 4.43% on the government-held shares. 1965 H. Kahn iii. 60 A government-held village. 2011 (Nexis) 4 Nov. The Privacy Act..allows individuals to request government-held information about themselves. 1939 H. B. Parkes ii. 21 Under the stress of a government-imposed industrialization the other aims of the Revolution—equality and freedom—have been postponed to a distant future. 1960 15 Mar. 66/1 The reward for this patriotic effort has been a Government-imposed cut of £9 million in the guarantees. 2009 (Nexis) 4 Nov. 12 Doctors complain government-imposed targets have distorted clinical decision-making. 1949 May 13/3 Their bible is the Government-issued Prospector's Guide for Uranium and Thorium Minerals in Canada. 1964 A. Wykes 335 The latter are government-issued bonds. 1997 25 Jan. 82/1 Recipients draw their retirement cash by inserting a government-issued card into a cash dispenser. 1907 7 Nov. 1/3 I could not smoke the filthy Government-made stuff that French people call tobacco. 2004 27 Sept. 38/2 North Koreans roared at the jokes and gasped at the love scenes—an eye-popping departure from the government-made propaganda flicks that are standard viewing fare in the Hermit Kingdom. 1907 1 Apr. 4/6 A special Government-mounted messenger was carrying the document along a country road. 2003 D. H. Eber (ed. 2) Pref. p. ix/1 Canadian Inuit began to adopt surnames only in the early 1970s following ‘Operation Surname’, a government-mounted initiative. 1940 G. E. Taylor 229 Chahar College—a government-organized college established in January, 1939. 2010 25 Jan. 38/2 All private-sector workers would be automatically enrolled in a new, government-organised scheme of ‘personal accounts’. 1836 19 July 3/6 The government should convey them [sc. convicts] in government-owned ships. 1965 I. 414/1 The Reserve Bank of Australia..is a government-owned institution established by Act of the Commonwealth Parliament in 1959. 2002 (Nexis) 22 Aug. b3 Unlike Via Rail Canada Inc., Amtrak is not government-owned, but merely financially supported. 1905 Oct. 568/1 The investigation of the South Carolina Slate Dispensary system shows the corruption that results from Government-run rumshops. 1964 A. Wykes x. 241 Britain's government-run lottery..is commonly called ‘Premium Bonds’. 2001 23 July 6/3 Lots of formerly government-run services—from trash collection to prison management—have been outsourced to private firms. 1892 P. T. Winskill IV. lxxi. 145/1 This Convention protests against a government-sanctioned liquor traffic being forced upon native races in India, Egypt, and on the Congo. 1963 15 Sept. b6/1 The 1st amendment's ban on a government-sanctioned religion prohibits the use of tax money for religious training. 2008 7 Feb. 25/1 Growing concern over sustainability could see traditional species such as cod and plaice disappear from the government-sanctioned menu. 1932 23 June 465/2 Part of the time he was with what he describes as an ‘official, Government sponsored party’ and part of the time he was alone. 2008 11 July c5/3 When it comes to big banks, government-sponsored entities and regional financial institutions, the refrain is that one or another is ‘too big to fail’. 1878 13 July The former [class] includes non-taxed bond-holders, government subsidized corporations, national bankers and the representatives of all other legislation-protected interests. 1931 4 709 The national provident benefits (a Government-subsidized contributory pension scheme) is open to residents without restriction. 2013 F. Green ix. 145 Only for the unemployed..is there a potential case for government-subsidized training. 1859 7 590/2 Have any of the Government supported conservatoires abroad turned out composers during the last twenty years? 1956 18 Feb. 312/2 Graduates who take up government or government-supported jobs related to national defence. 2009 22 Oct. 20/2 The tradition of government-supported research continues in our day. 1900 20 Apr. 3/2 Government-worked mines. C2. 1980 11 650 In the Government–Binding framework of Chomsky.., (45b) is excluded because it contains a variable in object position. 1995 D. Bouchard 477 In Government and Binding theory, it is an expletive that has no reference. 2004 K. Safir i. 3 The government–binding approach..opened the door to a welter of crosslinguistic comparisons. society > trade and finance > stocks and shares > stocks, shares, or bonds > [noun] > types of 1737 26 Apr. 1/2 Many Persons of the highest Rank and largest Fortunes in Holland are Proprietors of Government Bonds. 1875 W. S. Jevons 246 Government bonds..differ..in the fact that they have very long, or even interminable, usance. 1968 76 813 The interest rate on long-term government bonds and on corporates ranged..around 1.10 per cent. 2011 T. J. Miceli ii. 41 Each owner has $1,000, which they can either invest in maintaining their buildings or in some alternative investment, say a government bond. society > authority > rule or government > territorial jurisdiction or areas subject to > territory under a governor or official > [noun] > under a governor-general 1608 E. Grimeston tr. J. F. Le Petit 219 The Emperour Maximilian (when he was yet but King of Romaines, and Gardien to his sonne the Arch-duke Philip) made him his Lieutenant in the gouernment generall of the Neitherlands. [No corresponding passage in the French original.] 1803 Duke of Wellington (1837) III. 490 The Government-General repeatedly derived important advantages from the full command of those ports during the last war. 1940 5 Apr. 8/6 The reconstruction work which is being carried on in the ‘Government-General’ of Poland, i.e., that portion of the country which has not yet been annexed to Germany. 2005 G. L. Weinberg 63 Under a projected ‘Government General of Formosa’ would come Hong Kong, the Philippines, the Parcel Islands, and Macao..as well as the island of Hainan. 1920 29 Oct. 15/2 If this entitles them now to a Government ‘hand out’ there are others with stronger claims to consideration. 1969 14 Mar. (Colour Suppl.) 5/1 ‘The social wage’, in plain English, means Government hand-outs, the exact opposite of a wage. 2002 26 Aug. 26/2 Many credit-strapped CEOs licked their chops in anticipation of yet another big, fat government handout. But this time..Uncle Sam hasn't turned into Uncle Sugar. 2013 R. Storch i. 63 Most citizens would see their payment as something they earned,..not a government handout. society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > governor of province, dependency, or colony > [noun] > official residence of 1762 May 247/2 (heading) Observations on the Transit of Venus over the Sun, at the Government House, at Madras. 1802 A. Ellicott 43 The Governor..consented that we should meet at the government house. 1827 P. Cunningham I. 147 Few except the government houses are worthy of much notice, being chiefly small detached cottages of brick or wood, presenting no very imposing appearance. 1884 J. Baker 23 Were well recd. by acting Manager (Napier) & had ‘Government House’ to ourselves. 1906 W. A. Horn 82 The traveller..according to his social grade, goes either to the ‘Government House’ (owner's dwelling), ‘Bachelor's Hall’ (overseer's), or to the men's kitchen. 1941 58 (caption) Government Houses in a new street. 1950 5 June 4/4 There are 2,644 applicants awaiting Government houses. 1994 151/2 That grand old house just to the west is Government House. It's where the Queen stays when she comes to town. 1896 16 July 934/1 The government issue of beef to the Indians..has been quite common. 1919 5 Dec. 14 (advt.) Government issue shirts. 1942 19 July 26/5 Forty-seven separate items are included in the government issue of clothing for the members of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps. 1962 24 June 61/1 A government issue of planes and equipment. 1988 J. Ehle (1989) 109 Behind his saddle was tied..a government-issue rifle. 2012 S. John 89 A tiny cell with a few cans of government-issue food and some cheap liquor. society > authority > office > holder of office > [noun] > under government 1747 Aug. 347/2 They call the king and it would seem the people of Scotland too, his inheritance, a phrase our elective government-men cannot endure. 1827 P. Cunningham II. xxiv. 117 When fairly domiciliated, they are more respectfully spoken of under the loyal designation of government-men, the term convict being erased by a sort of general tacit compact from our Botany dictionary. 1843 T. C. Haliburton II. viii. 142 That goverment man, that spoke in their favour, warn't his speech rich? 1850 W. M. Thackeray II. xxxi. 309 Do we come out as Liberal Conservative, or as Government man, or on our own hook? 1912 A. Berry 180 Some of these Government men are still in my service to the present day, and some are my tenants. 1951 D. Thomas Jan. (1987) 782 And I? I go with horrible oil-men to interview horrible government-men. 1966 L. Cochran xviii. 156 This man is a government man. See? An FBI man. 1995 (Nexis) 4 Nov. (News section) 17 As for the PM—one Government man described his present mood as ebullient. 2008 M. Mayo 368/1 The government men claimed they identified themselves as U.S. Marshals and fired only in self-defense. society > authority > office > [noun] > an official post society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > types of building generally > [noun] > other types of building 1750 467/2 A government-office like that of the excise. ?1797 J. Wright tr. F. A. Stanislaus xxii. 207 The new government offices, which they propose building. 1891 27 Aug. 6/2 Government offices were principally held by young men who were distinguished for their extraordinary insolence and incompetence. 1908 M. K. Waddington v. 187 Convents and abbeys, now turned into schools, barracks, government offices of all kinds. 1993 11 Oct. 31/1 The allurement of government office should not be an opportunity to fleece taxpayers through overindulgent pension entitlements. society > trade and finance > stocks and shares > stocks, shares, or bonds > [noun] > bond > types of bond 1774 P. Francis tr. I. de Pinto i. 59 They knew nothing of bills of exchange, nor annuities, nor government-paper. 1802 1 105 The privilege of using twenty millions of government-paper for a certain limited time. 2005 10 Feb. 31/1 He believed this required guaranteeing ‘security of transfer’—the right of those who bought government paper to all subsequent profit or loss. society > trade and finance > stocks and shares > stocks, shares, or bonds > [noun] > bond > types of bond society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restraint depriving of liberty > binding or fettering > [noun] > bond(s) or fetter(s) or shackle(s) > for the hands or arms 1707 7 Advancing Money on the Government-Securities. 1848 J. S. Mill I. i. iv. §3 76 He buys from the State what are called government securities; that is, obligations by the government to pay a certain annual income. 1893 J. S. Farmer & W. E. Henley III. 189/2 Government-securities,..handcuffs; fetters generally. 1965 367 In addition to common and preferred stocks, almost all U.S. government securities and municipal and corporate bonds are traded over the counter. 1998 (Economist Publ.) 57/1 As interest rates fall..banks find it less rewarding merely to park their cash in government securities and collect the yield. society > authority > punishment > capital punishment > hanging > [noun] > gallows a1828 J. Bernard (1830) I. xi. 366 Doctor Mulready..has brought you alive agin, after you had been made the picture of the ‘slaping beauty’ on the Government sign-post. 1860 J. C. Hotten (ed. 2) Government signpost, the gallows. society > trade and finance > stocks and shares > stocks, shares, or bonds > [noun] > stock > types of 1734 29 The Landed Interest, as well as the Government Stocks, would suffer a proportionable Declension. 1797 VII. 497/1 The prices of all the government stocks, which bear interest at the same rate, must be nearly the same, as they all depend on the same security. 1852 10 Apr. 8/4 The rates are 4 @ 4½ on Government Stocks, 5 @ 6 on general call loans. 1895 20 May 8 The money of the small saver is invested in Government stock, and much of the old investments no doubt stand in the books of the banks at a handsome profit. 1958 27 June 849/1 Our undated and long-dated Government stocks are selling at historically low levels. 1984 29 Feb. 6/1 Building Societies..last night threatened to challenge in court the Inland Revenue's decision to tax their profits on holdings of Government stocks (gilts). 2002 M. Choudhry viii. 180 In theory government stocks all have the same credit risk. 1842 7 Mar. 2/3 The ‘Government Stroke’ is soon learned; and the proficiency of the new hands seems to exceed that of the oldest gang. 1856 W. W. Dobie iii. 47 Government labourers..were breaking stones with what is called ‘the government stroke’, which is a slow-going, anti-sweating kind of motion. 1943 E. Mercier 13 There appear to be two occasions when the Government stroke is not noticeable in a Government department—when it is hounding a private citizen for money, and when it is trying to pass a liability on to another department. 1996 (Nexis) 17 Aug. 21 Nobody loves public servants in the community generally, and the good ones have to carry the can for the all-too-many adherents of the ‘government stroke’ approach to work. society > trade and finance > merchandise > [noun] > surplus or excess goods 1836 27 Oct. The forty millions which is accumulating in the shape of a Government surplus. 1952 ‘E. C. R. Lorac’ xv. 151 Grey blankets, (good ‘government surplus’). 1991 A. Alvarez Risk in I. Hamilton 460 The prevailing style—in Britain, at least—is still government-surplus shabby. 1999 28 Oct. 33/6 The United States posted a record budget surplus..in the fiscal year to the end of September—the first back-to-back government surplus since the days of President Eisenhower. society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > machines which impart power > boiler > [noun] > parts of > valves 1837 26 Aug. 404/1 With the aid of this, as it were government valve, there can be no danger of a violent explosion, such as we weekly chronicle. 1860 7 216 The vessel was loaded at 25 lb. upon the government valve. 1893 E. Seeger 166 He blew out his government valve, (raising the steam pressure on the ‘Magnolia's’ boiler to 150 pounds, or 60 pounds more than allowed by law). 1924 (68th Congr., 1st Sess.) 234 A good example of the Government-wide saving resulting from well-prepared technical specifications..is seen in the contract-price reduction for exterior varnish. 1981 28 Dec. a10/3 Any changes should be made only after proper consideration is given to the impact on the FOIA government-wide. 1998 7 July 6/4 Lack of a government-wide strategy on public health was perpetuating unfairness in society. 2006 P. Aucoin in T. Christensen & P. Lægreid iv. 116 Extensive central agency management controls over the management of financial and human resources that applied government-wide. Derivatives 1851 2 302/1 Another argument much relied upon by the Governmentists is, that education renders man much more independent, and thus prevents his becoming so easily the dupe of designing men or bad Governments. 1862 J. Severn Roman Jrnls. in May (1892) 637 The governmentists swear that Victor Emmanuel is all the time in league with this ‘sacrilegious brigand’ [sc. Garibaldi]. society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > governor of province, dependency, or colony > [noun] > position of 1615 in W. H. Stevenson (1889) IV. 339 Hee..shall..at all tymes duringe his gouernmentshipp geue accompte vnto them of all the saied beddinge. 1766 in Mar. 535/2 I, Governor Cuff of the Niegro's in the province of Connecticut, do resign my Governmentship to John Anderson Niegor man to Governor Skene. 1851 Jan. 44 One by one he has deprived the army of the military governmentship of colonies, which were considered the birth rights of distinguished soldiers. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2015; most recently modified version published online June 2022). <  n.?c1400 |
