covenant English · revision 39911

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300, Kyng Alisaunder|origins=la conveniō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈkʌv.ən.ənt/, /ˈkʌv.nənt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|covenaunt]], [[bor|fro|covenant|t=agreement, pact, promise]] (12th century), later [[m|fro|convenant]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 2026)^(SOED 2002) the present participle of [[m|fro|covenir|t=to agree, meet]] used as a noun,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2024)^(Hoad 1986)^(Skeat 1911) from [[m|la|conveniō|t=to come together, agree]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Ayto 2005) formed from [[com-]], "together", and [[m|la|veniō|t=to come]].^(Etymonline) The Anglo-Norman [[m|xno|covenant|t=agreement, contract]] is recorded from the early 12th century.^(AND) As a biblical word it renders the Hebrew word for a contract, which the Septuagint translated as [[grc|διαθήκη|tr=diathḗkē]] and the Vulgate as [[m|la|foedus]], [[m|la|pactum]] or [[m|la|testāmentum]].^(Weekley 1921)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A mutual agreement between people to do or not to do something; a contract or bargain: Barnhart's first example, probably before 1300, is in ''Kyng Alisaunder'';^(Barnhart 1988) the OED dates the word to 1297,^(OED 2026) and Etymonline to about 1300.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Ayto traces the idea of agreement to a literal "coming together".^(Ayto 2005) The legal sense, a formal agreement or promise with legal force, especially one under seal, is recorded from c1330 in Robert Mannyng;^(OED 2026)^(Hoad 1986) from before 1616 (Shakespeare's ''Cymbeline'') it was also a clause in a deed, such as a lease.^(OED 2026) The biblical sense, an engagement made by God with people, appears in the Wycliffite Bible (a1382), and Hoad dates the divine covenant to the 13th century;^(OED 2026)^(Hoad 1986) from it came the names of the Old and New Covenants (1587) and the theologians' Covenant of Works and Covenant of Grace (a1640).^(OED 2026) In Scottish history the ''Covenant'' was any of the bonds that Presbyterians signed to defend their religion, especially the National Covenant of 1638 and the Solemn League and Covenant of 1643, whose signers were the ''Covenanters''.^(Collins 2023)^(Weekley 1921) The verb, to agree formally, is recorded from about 1300.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline) In Ayrshire ''covenant'' meant wages paid without food.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1297 – a mutual agreement, a contract.^(OED 2026)

+ * c1330 – (law) a formal agreement with legal force.^(OED 2026)

+ * c1330 – verb, to agree formally.^(OED 2026)

+ * a1382 – God's covenant with people.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1587 – the Old and New Covenants.^(OED 2026)

+ * a1616 – a clause in a deed or lease.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1638 – the Scottish National Covenant.^(Collins 2023)^(Weekley 1921)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A formal, solemn and binding [[agreement]]; a [[compact]] or [[contract]].^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # ([[law]]) A written agreement under seal, such as a promise to pay a yearly sum to a [[charity]].^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+ # (law) A clause in such an agreement, especially in a [[lease]] or deed: ''The house is subject to a covenant forbidding commercial use.''^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+ # (Bible) The agreement between God and the people of Israel, or between God and humankind.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+ # (Scottish history; usually ''Covenant'') Any of the bonds made by Scottish [[Presbyterian|alt=Presbyterians]] to defend their religion, especially in 1638 and 1643.^(Collins 2023)^(Weekley 1921)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To agree formally or solemnly; to promise by a covenant: ''The tenants covenanted to keep the garden in good order.''^(MWU 2024)^(OED 2026)

+ # To lay down as a condition of an agreement; to [[stipulate]].^(MWU 2024)^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[covenantal]]

+ * [[covenantally]]

+ * [[covenanter]]

+ * [[covenantor]]

+ * [[Ark of the Covenant]]

+ * [[New Covenant]]

+ * [[Old Covenant]]

+ * [[covenant of warranty]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[convenience]]

+ * [[convenient]]

+ * [[convene]]

+ * [[convent]]

+ * [[convention]]

+ * [[covenantee]]

+ * [[coven]]

+ * [[venue]]

+ * [[testament]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}