Chapter 355

4. A solemn compact between members of a church to maintain its faith, discipline, etc.

5. (Law) (a) An undertaking, on sufficient consideration, in writing and under seal, to do or to refrain from some act or thing; a contract; a stipulation; also, the document or writing containing the terms of agreement. (b) A form of action for the violation of a promise or contract under seal.

Syn. -- Agreement; contract; compact; bargain; arrangement; stipulation. -- Covenant , Contract , Compact , Stipulation . These words all denote a mutual agreement between two parties. Covenant is frequently used in a religious sense; as, the covenant of works or of grace; a church covenant ; the Solemn League and Covenant . Contract is the word most used in the business of life. Crabb and Taylor are wrong in saying that a contract must always be in writing. There are oral and implied contracts as well as written ones, and these are equally enforced by law. In legal usage, the word covenant has an important place as connected with contracts. A compact is only a stronger and more solemn contract. The term is chiefly applied to political alliances. Thus, the old Confederation was a compact between the States. Under the present Federal Constitution, no individual State can, without consent of Congress, enter into a compact with any other State or foreign power. A stipulation is one of the articles or provisions of a contract.

Covenant <Xpage=336>

Cov"e*nant (k?v"?-n?nt) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Covenanted ; p. pr. & vb. n. Covenanting .] To agree (with); to enter into a formal agreement; to bind one's self by contract; to make a stipulation.

Jupiter covenanted with him, that it should be hot or cold, wet or dry, . . . as the tenant should direct. L'Estrange.

And they covenanted with him for thyrty pieces of silver. Matt. xxvi. 15.

Syn. -- To agree; contract; bargain; stipulate.

Covenant <Xpage=336>

Cov"e*nant , v. t. To grant or promise by covenant.

My covenant of peace that I covenanted with you. Wyclif.

Covenantee <Xpage=336>

Cov`e*nan*tee" (k?v`?-n a n-t?") , n. (Law) The person in whose favor a covenant is made.

Covenanter <Xpage=336>

Cov"e*nant*er (k?v"?-n?nt-?r) , n. 1. One who makes a covenant.

2. (Eccl. Hist.) One who subscribed and defended the "Solemn League and Covenant." See Covenant .

Covenanting <Xpage=336>

Cov"e*nant*ing , a. Belonging to a covenant. Specifically, belonging to the Scotch Covenanters.

Be they covenanting traitors, Or the brood of false Argyle? Aytoun.

Covenantor <Xpage=336>

Cov"e*nant*or` (-?r`) , n. (Law) The party who makes a covenant.

Burrill.

Covenous <Xpage=336>

Cov"e*nous (k?v"?-n?s) , a. See Covinous , and Covin .

Covent <Xpage=336>

Cov"ent (k?v" e nt) , n. [OF. covent , F. couvent . See Convent .] A convent or monastery. [Obs.]

Bale.

Covent Garden , a large square in London, so called because originally it was the garden of a monastery.

Coventry <Xpage=336>

Cov"en*try (k?v" e n-tr?) , n. A town in the county of Warwick, England.

To send to Coventry , to exclude from society; to shut out from social intercourse, as for ungentlemanly conduct. -- Coventry blue , blue thread of a superior dye, made at Coventry, England, and used for embroidery.

Cover <Xpage=336>

Cov"er (k?v"?r) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Covered (-?rd) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Covering .] [OF. covrir , F. couvrir , fr. L. cooperire ; co- + operire to cover; probably fr. ob towards, over + the root appearing in aperire to open. Cf. Aperient , Overt , Curfew .] 1. To overspread the surface of (one thing) with another; as, to cover wood with paint or lacquer; to cover a table with a cloth.

2. To envelop; to clothe, as with a mantle or cloak.

And with the majesty of darkness round Covers his throune. Milton.

All that beauty than doth cover thee. Shak.

3. To invest (one's self with something); to bring upon (one's self); as, he covered himself with glory .

The powers that covered themselves with everlasting infamy by the partition of Poland. Brougham.

4. To hide sight; to conceal; to cloak; as, the snemy were covered from our sight by the woods .

A cloud covered the mount. Exod. xxiv. 15.

In vain shou striv'st to cover shame with shame. Milton.

5. To brood or sit on; to incubate.

While the hen is covering her eggs, the male . . . diverts her with his songs. Addison.

6. To overwhelm; to spread over.

The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen. Ex. xiv. 28.

7. To shelter, as from evil or danger; to protect; to defend; as, the cavalry covered the retreat .

His calm and blameless life Does with substantial blessedness abound, And the soft wings of peace cover him round. Cowley.

8. To remove from remembrance; to put away; to remit. "Blessed is he whose is covered ."

Ps. xxxii. 1.

9. To extend over; to be sufficient for; to comprehend, include, or embrace; to account for or solve; to counterbalance; as, a mortgage which fully covers a sum loaned on it; a law which covers all possible cases of a crime; receipts than do not cover expenses.

10. To put the usual covering or headdress on.

Cover thy head . . . ; nay, prithee, be covered . Shak.

11. To copulate with (a female); to serve; as. a horse covers a mare; -- said of the male.

To cover ground &or; distance , to pass over; as, the rider covered the ground in an hour. -- To cover one's short contracts (Stock Exchange) , to buy stock when the market rises, as a dealer who has sold short does in order to protect himself. -- Covering party (Mil.) , a detachment of troops sent for the protection of another detachment, as of men working in the trenches. -- To cover into , to transfer to; as, to cover into the treasury .

Syn. -- To shelter; screen; shield; hide; overspread.

Cover <Xpage=336>

Cov"er (k?v"?r) , n. 1. Anything which is laid, set, or spread, upon, about, or over, another thing; an envelope; a lid; as, the cover of a book .

2. Anything which weils or conceals; a screen; disguise; a cloack. "Under cover of the night."

Macualay.

A hendsome cover for imperfections. Collier.

3. Shelter; protection; as, the troops fought under cover of the batteries; the woods afforded a good cover .

Being compelled to lodge in the field . . . whilst his army was under cover , they might be forced to retire. Clarendon.

4. (Huntig) The woods, underbrush, etc., which shelter and conceal game; covert; as, to beat a cover ; to ride to cover .

5. That portion of a slate, tile, or shingle, which is hidden by the overlap of the course above.

Knight.

6. (Steam Engine) The lap of a slide valve.

7. [Cf. F. couvert .] A tablecloth, and the other table furniture; esp., the table furniture for the use of one person at a meal; as, covers were laid for fifty guests .

To break cover , to start from a covert or lair; -- said of game. -- Under cover , in an envelope, or within a letter; -- said of a written message.

Letters . . . dispatched under cover to her ladyship. Thackeray.

Cover <Xpage=336>

Cov"er , v. i. To spread a table for a meal; to prepare a banquet. [Obs.]

Shak.

Coverchief <Xpage=336>

Cov"er*chief (ch?f) , n. [See Kerchef .] A covering for the head. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Covercle <Xpage=336>

Cov"er*cle (k?v"?r-k'l) , n. [OF. covercle , F. couvercle , fr. L. co\'94perculum fr. co\'94perire . See cover ] A small cover; a lid. [>Obs.]

Sir T. Browne.

Covered <Xpage=336>

Cov"ered (k?v"?rd) , a. Under cover; screened; sheltered; not exposed; hidden.

Covered way (Fort.) , a corridor or banquette along the top of the counterscarp and covered by an embankment whose slope forms the glacis. It gives the garrisonn an open line of communication around the works, and a standing place beyond the ditch. See Illust . of Ravelin .

Coverer <Xpage=336>

Cov"er*er (-?r) , n. One who, or that which, covers.

Covering <Xpage=336>

Cov"er*ing , n. Anything which covers or conceals, as a roof, a screen, a wrapper, clothing, etc.

Noah removed the covering of the ark. Gen. viii. 13.

They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold. Job. xxiv. 7.

A covering over the well's mouth. 2 Sam. xvii. 19.

Coverlet <Xpage=336>

Cov"er*let (k?v"?r-l?t) , n. [F. couvre-lit ; couvrir to cover + lit bed, fr. L. lectus bed. See Cover .] The uppermost cover of a bed or of any piece of furniture.

Lay her in lilies and in violets . . . And odored sheets and arras coverlets . Spenser.

Coverlid <Xpage=336>

Cov"er*lid (-l?d) , n. A coverlet.

All the coverlid was clocth of gold. Tennyson.

Cover-point <Xpage=336>

Cov"er-point` (-point!) , n. The fielder in the games of cricket and lacrosse who supports "point."

Coversed sine <Xpage=336>

Co*versed" sine (k?-v?rst" s?n`) . [ Co- (= co- in co- sine) + versed sine .] (Geom.) The versed sine of the complement of an arc or angle. See Illust . of Functions .

Cover-shame <Xpage=336>

Cov"er-shame` (-sh?m`) , n. Something used to conceal infamy. [Obs.]

Dryden.

Covert <Xpage=336>

Cov"ert (k?v"?rt) , a. [OF. covert , F. couvert , p. p. of couvrir . See Cover , v. t. ] 1. Covered over; private; hid; secret; disguised.

How covert matters may be best disclosed. Shak.

Whether of open war or covert guile. Milton

2. Sheltered; not open or exposed; retired; protected; as, a covert nook .

Wordsworth.

Of either side the green, to plant a covert alley. Bacon.

3. (Law) Under cover, authority or protection; as, a feme covert , a married woman who is considered as being under the protection and control of her husband .

Covert way , (Fort.) See Covered way , under Covered .

Syn. -- Hidden; secret; private; covered; disguised; insidious; concealed. See Hidden .

Covert <Xpage=336>

Cov"ert , n. [OF. See Covert , a. ] 1. A place that covers and protects; a shelter; a defense.

A tabernacle . . . for a covert from storm. Is. iv. 6.

The highwayman has darted from his covered by the wayside. Prescott.

2. [Cf. F. couverte .] (Zo\'94l.) One of the special feathers covering the bases of the quills of the wings and tail of a bird. See Illust . of Bird .

Covert baron <Xpage=336>

Cov"ert bar`on (b?r`?n) . (Law) Under the protection of a husband; married.

Burrill.

Covertly <Xpage=336>

Cov"ert*ly , adv. Secretly; in private; insidiously.

Covertness <Xpage=336>

Cov"ert*ness (k?v"?rt-n?s) , n. Secrecy; privacy. [R.]

Coverture <Xpage=336>

Cov"er*ture (k?v"?r-t?r; 135) , n. [OF. coverture ,F. couverture .] 1. Covering; shelter; defence; hiding.

Protected by walls or other like coverture . Woodward.

Beatrice, who even now Is couched in the woodbine coverture . Shak.

2. (Law) The condition of a woman during marriage, because she is considered under the cover, influence, power, and protection of her husband, and therefore called a feme covert , or femme couverte .

Covet <Xpage=336>

Cov"et (k?v"?t) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Covered ; p. pr. & vb. n. Coveting .] [OF. coveitier , covoitier , F. convoiter , from a derivative fr. L. cupere to desire; cf. Skr. kup to become excited. Cf. Cupidity .]

1. To wish for with eagerness; to desire possession of; -- used in a good sen<?/.

Covet earnestly the best gifts. 1. Cor. xxii. 31.

If it be a sin to covet honor, I am the most offending soul alive. Shak.

2. To long for inordinately or unlawfully; to hanker after (something forbidden).

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house. Ex. xx. 17.

yn <Xpage=336>

yn . -- To long for; desire; hanker after; crave.

Covet <Xpage=336>

Cov"et , v. i. To have or indulge inordinate desire.

Which [money] while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith. 1 Tim. vi. 10.

Covetable <Xpage=336>

Cov"et*a*ble (k?v"?t-?-b'l) , a. That may be coveted; desirable.

Coveter <Xpage=336>

Cov"et*er (-?r) , n. One who covets.

Covetise <Xpage=336>

Cov"et*ise (-?s) , n. [OF. coveitise , F. convoitise . See Covet , v. t. ] Avarice. [Obs.]

Spenser.

Covetiveness <Xpage=336>

Cov"et*ive*ness (-?v-) , n. (Phren.) Acquisitiveness.

Covetous <Xpage=336>

Cov"et*ous (k?v"?t-?s) , a. [OF. coveitos , F. convoiteux . See Covet , v. t. ] 1. Very desirous; eager to obtain; -- used in a good sense. [Archaic]

Covetous of wisdom and fair virtue. Shak.

Covetous death bereaved us all, To aggrandize one funeral. Emerson.

2. Inordinately desirous; excessively eager to obtain and possess (esp. money); avaricious; -- in a bad sense.

The covetous person lives as if the world were madealtogether for him, and not he for the world. South.

Syn. -- Avaricious; parsimonious; penurious; misrely; niggardly. See Avaricious .

Covetously <Xpage=336>

Cov"et*ous*ly , adv. In a covetous manner.

Covetousness <Xpage=336>

Cov"et*ous*ness , n. 1. Strong desire. [R.]

When workmen strive to do better than well, They do confound their skill in covetousness . Shak.

2. A strong or inordinate desire of obtaining and possessing some supposed good; excessive desire for riches or money; -- in a bad sense.

Covetousness , by a greed of getting more, deprivess itself of the true end of getting. Sprat.

Syn. -- Avarice; cupidity; eagerness.

Covey <Xpage=336>

Cov"ey (k?v"?) , n. [OF. cov<?/e , F. couv<?/e , fr. cover , F. couver , to sit or brood on, fr. L. cubare to lie down; cf. E. incubate . See Cubit , and cf. Cove to brood.] 1. A brood or hatch of birds; an old bird with her brood of young; hence, a small flock or number of birds together; -- said of game; as, a covey of partridges .

Darwin.

2. A company; a bevy; as, a covey of girls .

Addison.

Covey <Xpage=336>

Cov"ey , v. i. To brood; to incubate. [Obs.]

[Tortoises] covey a whole year before they hatch. Holland.

Covey <Xpage=336>

Cov"ey , n. A pantry. [Prov. Eng.]

Parker.

Covin <Xpage=336>

Cov"in (k?v"?n) , n. [OF. covine , covaine , fr. covenir to agree. See Covenant .] 1. (Law) A collusive agreement between two or more persons to prejudice a third.

2. Deceit; fraud; artifice. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Covinous <Xpage=336>

Cov"in*ous (k?v"?n-?s) , a. (Law) Deceitful; collusive; fraudulent; dishonest.

Cow <Xpage=336>

Cow (kou) , n. [See Cowl a hood.] A chimney cap; a cowl

Cow <Xpage=336>

Cow , n. ; pl. Cows (kouz); old pl. Kine (k<?/n) . [OE. cu , cou , AS. c<?/ ; akin to D. koe , G. kuh , OHG. kuo , Icel. k<?/r , Dan. & Sw. ko , L. bos ox, cow, Gr. <?/<?/<?/. Skr. g<?/ . &root;223. Cf. Beef , Bovine , Bucolic , Butter , Nylghau .]

1. The mature female of bovine animals .

2. The female of certain large mammals, as whales, seals, etc.

Cow <Xpage=336>

Cow , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Cowed (koud) ;; p. pr. & vb. n. Cowing .] [Cf. Icel. kuga , Sw. kufva to check, subdue, Dan. kue . Cf. Cuff , v. t. ] To depress with fear; to daunt the spirits or courage of; to overawe.

To vanquish a people already cowed . Shak.

THe French king was cowed . J. R. Green.

Cow <Xpage=336>

Cow , n. [Prob. from same root as cow , v.t.] (Mining) A wedge, or brake, to check the motion of a machine or car; a chock.

Knight.

Cowage <Xpage=336>

Cow"age (kou1?j) , n. (Bot.) See Cowhage .

Cowan <Xpage=336>

Cow"an (kou" a n) , n. [Cf. OF. couillon a coward, a cullion.] One who works as a mason without having served a regular apprenticeship. [Scot.] Among Freemasons, it is a cant term for pretender , interloper .

Coward <Xpage=336>

Cow"ard (kou"?rd) , a. [OF. couard , coard , coart , n. and adj., F. couard , fr. OF. coe , coue , tail, F. queue (fr. L. coda , a form of cauda tail) + -ard ; orig., short-tailed, as an epithet of the hare, or perh., turning tail, like a scared dog. Cf. Cue , Queue , Caudal .] 1. (Her.) Borne in the escutcheon with his tail doubled between his legs; -- said of a lion.

2. Destitute of courage; timid; cowardly.

Fie, coward woman, and soft-hearted wretch. Shak.

3. Belonging to a coward; proceeding from, or expressive of, base fear or timidity.

He raised the house with loud and coward cries. Shak.

Invading fears repel my coward joy. Proir.

Coward <Xpage=336>

Cow"ard , n. A person who lacks courage; a timid or pusillanimous person; a poltroon.

A fool is nauseous, but a coward worse. Dryden.

Syn. -- Craven; poltroon; dastard.

Coward <Xpage=336>

Cow"ard , v. t. To make timoroys; to frighten. [Obs.]

That which cowardeth a man's heart. Foxe.

Cowardice <Xpage=336>