control of rivers, canals, entrance gates, includes admin. sense plus ~ device sense (levers, buttons)

                           ~ as in, administration (reins)  

   ~pests, lawns, etc. (spray or shielding armies(restraint sense))

LEVERS, REINS, RESTRAINING ARMIES

   ~ agency, liaison, terms of agreement;  issuances, decrees, titles, charters; 

DECREES, LIAISON, TITLE, ISSUANCES, TERMS

 ~situations, processes, projects; public image, critical information as per availability

 ~supplies, as in ordering, or supply chains (see first category, this entry)

 ~chemical mixtures or theatrical atmospheres

AGENTS, TEAMS, or SITUATIONS, CAMPAIGNS, PROJECTS, or IMAGES, INFORMATION or SECRETS

answers to the question: " the word 'control' can be used as in, 'control of' what, specifically, or 'to control' what?" 

implied variation + ghost transitioning 

1) slave-related, then worker-related, use of the word "rule" written into stories (starting in the 1700's?), justifies & assists

 

2) previously existing (?) "reins" usage of the verb "to control,  viz.  "ctrl. reins, "ctrl. horses, "ctrl. carriage, "ctrl. luge, "ctrl. realm;

 

3) variation (in this case, a sort of expansion in range) is implied, :  "to ctrl."  as in "to orchestrate, ~grab reins, ~hold land claims, ~maintain political relationships, (eagle's claw on $ bill) persists,     yet alongside "to ctrl." as in "to ctrl. device, ~ctrl. machine, ~ctrl. slaves, with the meaning of the first newly capable of being shaded with the meaning of the second, as justified via the changes elsewhere (in 1 & 2 above)-- this is what i am labeling "ghost transitioning. When could this be seen as having clearly been established? I'll guess 1900's, early.