I.to steer or pilot a ship (class.).
I. Lit.: dum clavum rectum teneant navemque gubernent, Enn. ap. Isid. Orig. 19, 2 (Ann. v. 472 Vahl.): “ut si nautae certarent, quis eorum potissimum gubernaret,” Cic. Off. 1, 25, 87: “tranquillo mari gubernare,” id. Rep. 1, 6.—Prov.: “gubernare e terra,” i. e. to guide those who are in peril while keeping in safety one's self, Liv. 44, 22, 14: “quilibet nautarum tranquillo mari gubernare potest,” id. 24, 8, 12; cf. gubernator, I. fin.—
II. Transf., in gen., to direct, manage, conduct, govern, guide (a favorite word with Cic.; cf.: “moderor, rego): qui eos gubernat animus infirmum gerunt,” Ter. Hec. 3, 1, 31: “quid miramur L. Sullam, cum solus rem publicam regeret orbemque terrarum gubernaret? etc.,” Cic. Rosc. Am. 45, 131; cf.: “melius gubernari et regi civitates,” id. Rep. 2, 9: “rem publicam,” id. ib. 1, 34; 3, 35; cf. “also: in gubernanda re publica,” id. ib. 1, 29: “teque hortor, ut omnia gubernes ac moderere prudentia tua,” id. Fam. 2, 7, 1; cf.: “illa tormenta gubernat dolor,” id. Sull. 28, 78: “totam petitionem,” id. Mil. 9, 25: “velim ergo totum hoc ita gubernes, ut, etc.,” id. Att. 13, 25, 2: “sed haec fortuna viderit, quoniam ratio non gubernat,” id. ib. 14, 11, 1; cf.: “sed haec deus aliquis gubernabit,” id. ib. 6, 3, 3: “fortunae motum,” id. ib. 8, 4, 1: “iter meum rei publicae et rerum urbanarum ratio gubernabit,” id. Fam. 2, 17, 1: “vitam,” id. Fin. 2, 13, 43: “fortunam suam,” Vell. 2, 127, 1: “Massyleum virga gubernet equum,” Mart. 9, 23, 14.— Absol.: jam ex sermone hoc gubernabunt doctius porro, will steer, i. e. behave, Plaut. Mil. 4, 2, 99; cf. gubernator, II.
