"governail" meaning in Middle English

See governail in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Noun

IPA: /ɡuvərˈnɛi̯l(ə)/, /ˈɡuvərnɛl(ə)/ Forms: governails [plural], governail [alternative], governaill [alternative], governaille [alternative], governayle [alternative], governaylle [alternative], governele [alternative], governeylle [alternative]
Etymology: Borrowed from Middle French governail, from Old French governail, governaille, from Latin gubernāculum. Etymology templates: {{bor+|enm|frm|governail}} Borrowed from Middle French governail, {{der|enm|fro|governail}} Old French governail, {{der|enm|la|gubernāculum}} Latin gubernāculum Head templates: {{head|enm|nouns|g=|g2=|g3=|head=|sort=}} governail, {{enm-noun|governails}} governail (plural governails)
  1. Control, direction, or leadership:
    Government, rule; administrative or political control.
    Sense id: en-governail-enm-noun-1u5RCD6z Categories (other): Government Disambiguation of Government: 87 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 7
  2. Control, direction, or leadership:
    Guardianship or oversight; one's role as a caretaker or guardian.
    Sense id: en-governail-enm-noun-2LmKuPY9 Categories (other): Tools Disambiguation of Tools: 5 15 5 12 14 15 15 6 13
  3. Control, direction, or leadership:
    Willpower or reserve; control over oneself.
    Sense id: en-governail-enm-noun-omdXgXOL
  4. Control, direction, or leadership:
    The duration an office is held for; reign, tenure.
    Sense id: en-governail-enm-noun-HRurXL6m Categories (other): Time, Tools Disambiguation of Time: 0 0 0 100 0 0 0 0 0 Disambiguation of Tools: 5 15 5 12 14 15 15 6 13
  5. (rare) Destiny; a preordained result or fate. Tags: rare
    Sense id: en-governail-enm-noun-Kn59DBZp Categories (other): Tools Disambiguation of Tools: 5 15 5 12 14 15 15 6 13
  6. A rudder or oar (paddle for steering a vessel)
    Sense id: en-governail-enm-noun-7uk~kieq Categories (other): Nautical, Tools Disambiguation of Nautical: 0 0 0 0 0 100 0 0 0 Disambiguation of Tools: 5 15 5 12 14 15 15 6 13
  7. (rare, medicine) A restorative course of action. Tags: rare
    Sense id: en-governail-enm-noun-CKAgoses Categories (other): Medicine, Middle English entries with incorrect language header, Pages with entries, Tools Disambiguation of Middle English entries with incorrect language header: 12 1 5 1 7 7 12 28 17 10 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 29 1 1 1 6 2 8 28 17 7 Disambiguation of Tools: 5 15 5 12 14 15 15 6 13 Topics: medicine, sciences
  8. (rare) Behaviour, action, or demeanour. Tags: rare
    Sense id: en-governail-enm-noun-HIiUSlOJ Categories (other): Pages with entries, Human behaviour Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 29 1 1 1 6 2 8 28 17 7 Disambiguation of Human behaviour: 1 3 1 4 4 4 22 55 6
  9. (rare, figurative) A guardian or overseer; one who directs. Tags: figuratively, rare
    Sense id: en-governail-enm-noun-bcmwO5Vw Categories (other): People, Tools Disambiguation of People: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 100 Disambiguation of Tools: 5 15 5 12 14 15 15 6 13

Alternative forms

{
  "descendants": [
    {
      "depth": 1,
      "templates": [
        {
          "args": {
            "1": "en",
            "2": "governail",
            "qq": "archaic"
          },
          "expansion": "English: governail (archaic)",
          "name": "desc"
        }
      ],
      "text": "English: governail (archaic)"
    },
    {
      "depth": 1,
      "templates": [
        {
          "args": {
            "1": "gmw-msc",
            "2": "governall"
          },
          "expansion": "Middle Scots: governall",
          "name": "desc"
        }
      ],
      "text": "Middle Scots: governall"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "frm",
        "3": "governail"
      },
      "expansion": "Borrowed from Middle French governail",
      "name": "bor+"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "fro",
        "3": "governail"
      },
      "expansion": "Old French governail",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "gubernāculum"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin gubernāculum",
      "name": "der"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Borrowed from Middle French governail, from Old French governail, governaille, from Latin gubernāculum.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "governails",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "governail",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "governaill",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "governaille",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "governayle",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "governaylle",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "governele",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "governeylle",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "nouns",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "head": "",
        "sort": ""
      },
      "expansion": "governail",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "governails"
      },
      "expansion": "governail (plural governails)",
      "name": "enm-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "87 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 7",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Government",
          "orig": "enm:Government",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Control, direction, or leadership:",
        "Government, rule; administrative or political control."
      ],
      "id": "en-governail-enm-noun-1u5RCD6z",
      "links": [
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        [
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        ],
        [
          "leadership",
          "leadership"
        ],
        [
          "Government",
          "government"
        ],
        [
          "rule",
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        [
          "administrative",
          "administrative"
        ],
        [
          "political",
          "political"
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      ]
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    {
      "categories": [
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          "_dis": "5 15 5 12 14 15 15 6 13",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
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          "orig": "enm:Tools",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Control, direction, or leadership:",
        "Guardianship or oversight; one's role as a caretaker or guardian."
      ],
      "id": "en-governail-enm-noun-2LmKuPY9",
      "links": [
        [
          "Control",
          "control"
        ],
        [
          "direction",
          "direction"
        ],
        [
          "leadership",
          "leadership"
        ],
        [
          "Guardianship",
          "guardianship"
        ],
        [
          "oversight",
          "oversight"
        ],
        [
          "caretaker",
          "caretaker"
        ],
        [
          "guardian",
          "guardian"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Control, direction, or leadership:",
        "Willpower or reserve; control over oneself."
      ],
      "id": "en-governail-enm-noun-omdXgXOL",
      "links": [
        [
          "Control",
          "control"
        ],
        [
          "direction",
          "direction"
        ],
        [
          "leadership",
          "leadership"
        ],
        [
          "Willpower",
          "willpower"
        ],
        [
          "oneself",
          "oneself"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "0 0 0 100 0 0 0 0 0",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Time",
          "orig": "enm:Time",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "5 15 5 12 14 15 15 6 13",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Tools",
          "orig": "enm:Tools",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Control, direction, or leadership:",
        "The duration an office is held for; reign, tenure."
      ],
      "id": "en-governail-enm-noun-HRurXL6m",
      "links": [
        [
          "Control",
          "control"
        ],
        [
          "direction",
          "direction"
        ],
        [
          "leadership",
          "leadership"
        ],
        [
          "duration",
          "duration"
        ],
        [
          "office",
          "office"
        ],
        [
          "reign",
          "reign"
        ],
        [
          "tenure",
          "tenure"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "5 15 5 12 14 15 15 6 13",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Tools",
          "orig": "enm:Tools",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Destiny; a preordained result or fate."
      ],
      "id": "en-governail-enm-noun-Kn59DBZp",
      "links": [
        [
          "preordained",
          "preordained"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(rare) Destiny; a preordained result or fate."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "rare"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "0 0 0 0 0 100 0 0 0",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Nautical",
          "orig": "enm:Nautical",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "5 15 5 12 14 15 15 6 13",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Tools",
          "orig": "enm:Tools",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A rudder or oar (paddle for steering a vessel)"
      ],
      "id": "en-governail-enm-noun-7uk~kieq",
      "links": [
        [
          "rudder",
          "rudder"
        ],
        [
          "oar",
          "oar"
        ],
        [
          "paddle",
          "paddle#English"
        ],
        [
          "vessel",
          "vessel#English"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Medicine",
          "orig": "enm:Medicine",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "12 1 5 1 7 7 12 28 17 10",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "29 1 1 1 6 2 8 28 17 7",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "5 15 5 12 14 15 15 6 13",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Tools",
          "orig": "enm:Tools",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A restorative course of action."
      ],
      "id": "en-governail-enm-noun-CKAgoses",
      "links": [
        [
          "medicine",
          "medicine"
        ],
        [
          "restorative",
          "restorative"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(rare, medicine) A restorative course of action."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "rare"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "medicine",
        "sciences"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "29 1 1 1 6 2 8 28 17 7",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "1 3 1 4 4 4 22 55 6",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Human behaviour",
          "orig": "enm:Human behaviour",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Behaviour, action, or demeanour."
      ],
      "id": "en-governail-enm-noun-HIiUSlOJ",
      "links": [
        [
          "Behaviour",
          "behaviour"
        ],
        [
          "action",
          "action"
        ],
        [
          "demeanour",
          "demeanour"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(rare) Behaviour, action, or demeanour."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "rare"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 100",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "People",
          "orig": "enm:People",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "5 15 5 12 14 15 15 6 13",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Tools",
          "orig": "enm:Tools",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A guardian or overseer; one who directs."
      ],
      "id": "en-governail-enm-noun-bcmwO5Vw",
      "links": [
        [
          "guardian",
          "guardian"
        ],
        [
          "overseer",
          "overseer"
        ],
        [
          "direct",
          "direct"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(rare, figurative) A guardian or overseer; one who directs."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "figuratively",
        "rare"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ɡuvərˈnɛi̯l(ə)/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈɡuvərnɛl(ə)/"
    }
  ],
  "word": "governail"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
    "Middle English lemmas",
    "Middle English nouns",
    "Middle English terms borrowed from Middle French",
    "Middle English terms derived from Latin",
    "Middle English terms derived from Middle French",
    "Middle English terms derived from Old French",
    "Pages with 2 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "enm:Government",
    "enm:Human behaviour",
    "enm:Nautical",
    "enm:People",
    "enm:Time",
    "enm:Tools"
  ],
  "descendants": [
    {
      "depth": 1,
      "templates": [
        {
          "args": {
            "1": "en",
            "2": "governail",
            "qq": "archaic"
          },
          "expansion": "English: governail (archaic)",
          "name": "desc"
        }
      ],
      "text": "English: governail (archaic)"
    },
    {
      "depth": 1,
      "templates": [
        {
          "args": {
            "1": "gmw-msc",
            "2": "governall"
          },
          "expansion": "Middle Scots: governall",
          "name": "desc"
        }
      ],
      "text": "Middle Scots: governall"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "frm",
        "3": "governail"
      },
      "expansion": "Borrowed from Middle French governail",
      "name": "bor+"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "fro",
        "3": "governail"
      },
      "expansion": "Old French governail",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "gubernāculum"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin gubernāculum",
      "name": "der"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Borrowed from Middle French governail, from Old French governail, governaille, from Latin gubernāculum.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "governails",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "governail",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "governaill",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "governaille",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "governayle",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "governaylle",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "governele",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "governeylle",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
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        "g2": "",
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        "head": "",
        "sort": ""
      },
      "expansion": "governail",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "governails"
      },
      "expansion": "governail (plural governails)",
      "name": "enm-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Control, direction, or leadership:",
        "Government, rule; administrative or political control."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Control",
          "control"
        ],
        [
          "direction",
          "direction"
        ],
        [
          "leadership",
          "leadership"
        ],
        [
          "Government",
          "government"
        ],
        [
          "rule",
          "rule"
        ],
        [
          "administrative",
          "administrative"
        ],
        [
          "political",
          "political"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Control, direction, or leadership:",
        "Guardianship or oversight; one's role as a caretaker or guardian."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Control",
          "control"
        ],
        [
          "direction",
          "direction"
        ],
        [
          "leadership",
          "leadership"
        ],
        [
          "Guardianship",
          "guardianship"
        ],
        [
          "oversight",
          "oversight"
        ],
        [
          "caretaker",
          "caretaker"
        ],
        [
          "guardian",
          "guardian"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Control, direction, or leadership:",
        "Willpower or reserve; control over oneself."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Control",
          "control"
        ],
        [
          "direction",
          "direction"
        ],
        [
          "leadership",
          "leadership"
        ],
        [
          "Willpower",
          "willpower"
        ],
        [
          "oneself",
          "oneself"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Control, direction, or leadership:",
        "The duration an office is held for; reign, tenure."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Control",
          "control"
        ],
        [
          "direction",
          "direction"
        ],
        [
          "leadership",
          "leadership"
        ],
        [
          "duration",
          "duration"
        ],
        [
          "office",
          "office"
        ],
        [
          "reign",
          "reign"
        ],
        [
          "tenure",
          "tenure"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Middle English terms with rare senses"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Destiny; a preordained result or fate."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "preordained",
          "preordained"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(rare) Destiny; a preordained result or fate."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "rare"
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A rudder or oar (paddle for steering a vessel)"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "rudder",
          "rudder"
        ],
        [
          "oar",
          "oar"
        ],
        [
          "paddle",
          "paddle#English"
        ],
        [
          "vessel",
          "vessel#English"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Middle English terms with rare senses",
        "enm:Medicine"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A restorative course of action."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "medicine",
          "medicine"
        ],
        [
          "restorative",
          "restorative"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(rare, medicine) A restorative course of action."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "rare"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "medicine",
        "sciences"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Middle English terms with rare senses"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Behaviour, action, or demeanour."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Behaviour",
          "behaviour"
        ],
        [
          "action",
          "action"
        ],
        [
          "demeanour",
          "demeanour"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(rare) Behaviour, action, or demeanour."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "rare"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Middle English terms with rare senses"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A guardian or overseer; one who directs."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "guardian",
          "guardian"
        ],
        [
          "overseer",
          "overseer"
        ],
        [
          "direct",
          "direct"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(rare, figurative) A guardian or overseer; one who directs."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "figuratively",
        "rare"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ɡuvərˈnɛi̯l(ə)/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈɡuvərnɛl(ə)/"
    }
  ],
  "word": "governail"
}

Download raw JSONL data for governail meaning in Middle English (4.5kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable Middle English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2025-06-16 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2025-06-01 using wiktextract (074e7de and f1c2b61). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.