government

Where does the word "government" come from? It comes from Greek kybernan, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (1300s).

Government’s story begins in Greek: kybernan meant “to steer.” To steer a ship; also the source of 'cybernetics'. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as gubernāre. Borrowed from Greek; Romans used the steering image for ruling a state. From there it passed into Old French as governement by medieval. The act of ruling or managing. It reached English by 1300s as government. The sense 'the governing body of a state' dates from the 1700s. Today, government means the group of people with authority to run a country or state.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient kybernan "to steer", to steer a ship; also the source of 'cybernetics'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient gubernāre "to steer, govern", borrowed from Greek; Romans used the steering image for ruling a state.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval governement "rule, management", the act of ruling or managing.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1300s government "governing body", the sense 'the governing body of a state' dates from the 1700s.