The action of directing or governing; guidance, control, rule, government. to have, take the steer (ofa country, etc.).

Guidance, advice, counsel. Also: contrivance.

Controlling, directing, or regulating influence; control, mastery.

= control, n. 2. Now rare.

Control, rule, governance. Also: a system of government. Obsolete.

The fact or power of directing and regulating the actions of people or things; direction, management; command. Also occasionally: an instance of this.

Power of control, disposal, or direction; mastery; possession with full power to use. command of language, command of words, etc.: facility of…

the handle of a whip, a whipstock; also figurative (see quot. 1653; with quot. 1861 cf. whip hand, n. 2).

control (cf. whip hand, n. 2).