coverture 
2. A covert or shelter; covering ; protection ; 
disguise; pretense. [Obsolete or rare.] 
All this is don.' hut fur ii sotilte, 
Tu hiilr yimr falnhede vmlcr a cunTtur?, 
Kut liu shall dye to momw he ye MIL . 
I.'.,,. /././. (K. K. 'I'. S.), 1. 1539. 
Agaynst his rruell s<-<,rtrhiriu' h<Mt>- 
Where hast thou currrture? 
.s'/w'/ixer, Shep. *'iil., July. 
lie . . . Haw their xhame that sought 
Vain :,,, i, Mill;,:. I'. I.., x. 337. 
3. Specifically, in law, the status of a married 
woman considered as under the cover or pow- 
er of her husband, and therefore called a feme 
covert. At common law roverture clisahled a woman 
from making o>utnietji to the prejudice of herself or her 
hushainl without his allowance or confirmation. Also 
oattrt, 
COVert-waT (kuv'ert-wa), n. Same as cm, ml 
way (which see, under coverl, r. (.). 
covet (kuv'et), v. [Early mod. E. also cuvel ; 
< ME. coveteH, coveitrn, coreyten, < AF. cureiter. 
OF. coveiter, covoiter, F. convoiter (with inserted 
) = Pr. robi'itar, niliilar (<('. Sp. cuilirinr = Pg. 
cobiqar, cubicar, covet, < Sp. codicia = Pg. cn- 
biqa, culiica, < ML. rupiilitin : scr rtiri'tiw) = It. 
cubitare, covet, < ML. as if "eujriditare, desire, 
covet, < cupidita(t-)s, desire (>ult. E. cupidity*. 
citpidux, desirous, < </;<, desire: sec ciipiilnux, 
Cupid.] I. <ra. 1. To desire or wish for with 
eagerness; desire earnestly to obtain or possess : 
in a good sense. 
Me liketh it well for that thow cooeutett prowesse and 
valour. Merlin (E. E. T. 8.), ill. 521. 
Covet earnestly the best gifts. 1 Cor. xii. 31. 
The nature of man doth extremely covet to have some- 
what in his understand!!!); fixed and immovable. 
Bacon, Advancement of Learning, ij. 22*2. 
They [the salmon] covet to swim, by the instinct of na- 
ture, about a set time. /. W allun, Complete Angler, p. 123. 
2. To desire inordinately or without due re- 
gard to the rights of others ; wish to gain pos- 
session of in an unlawful way ; long for, as that 
which it is unlawful to obtain or possess. 
Thou shalt not court thy neighbour's house. Ex. xx. 17. 
O blinde desire : oh high aspiring harts. 
The country Squire doth cottet to be Knight. 
Gojtcuifjite, Steele Glas (ed. Arlier), p. 61. 
=8yn. 1 and 2. To long for, hanker after, aspire to. 2. 
To lust after. 
II. in trans. To have or indulge inordinate 
desire. 
The love of money is the root of all evil : which while 
some coveted after, they have erred from the faith. 
1 Tim. vi. 10. 
I'll rather keep 
That which I have, than, coveting for more, 
Be cast from possibility of all. Shalt., 1 Hen. VI., v. 4. 
COVetable (kuv'e-ta-bl), a. [< covet + -able.] 
That may be coveted. 
coveter (kuv'e-ter), n. [< ME. coreytere ; < covet 
+ -er.] One who covets. 
We ben no cowytei-it of ynelis. Wyclif, 1 Cor. x. 6. 
covetingly (kuv'e-ting-li), adv. With eager 
desire to possess. 
Most enrelingly ready. B. Jonson, Cynthia's Revels. 
covetiset, >' [< ME. eovetise, coveitise, (. AF. 
"cweitise, OF. coreitise, F. convoitise = Pr. c- 
biticia = OSp. cobdicia, Sp. codicia = Pg. cobica, 
ettWca = It. cupidigia, cupidezza, < ML. cuptdi- 
tia, equiv. to L. cupidita(t-)s, desire, < cupidus, 
desirous: see cupidity and covet."] Covetous- 
ness ; avarice ; avaricious desire. 
Couttite to conne and to knowe sciences 
Putte oute of paradys Adam and Eue. 
Pie r Plowman (C), xvii. 223. 
A clergyman must not be covetous, much less for emetine 
must he neglect his cure. 
Je r. Taylor, Works (ed. 183ft), II. 241. 
covetiveness (kuv'e-tiv-nes), n. [< "covetire 
(< cori-l + -ire) + -ness.] In phreu., same as 
tiniHiaitimu-xs, 2. 
covetous (kuv'e-tus), a. [< ME. coveitous, 
f<ir<iiton.i, i-iirrtnu.t, rorctux, etc., < AF. 'cuveitux, 
cnrt'itus, OF. emotions, F. conroiteiuc = Pr. co- 
beitos, cubitos (cf. Sp. codicioso = Pg. cobtcoso) 
= It. cubitosn, < ML. as if 'cupiditosus (cf. cupi- 
diosus, eupidinosus), < L. cupidita(t-)s, desire: 
see covet.] 1. Very desirous; eager for ac- 
quisition : in a good sense: as, covetous of wis- 
dom, virtue, or learning. 
The bretiMins pressed to the bateile as the! that were 
desirous to luste and covetmue to do chiualrie. 
Merlin (E. E. T. 8.), iii. 646. 
Saba was never 
More covetous of wisdom, and fair virtue, 
Than this pure soul shall lie. 
Shut.. Hen. VIII., v. 4 
I must imu-h value ttie frei(Uellt Kespeets you ha\e 
shewn me. and am very euivtoua of the Improvement of 
this Aequaintanee. II anvil. Letters, ii. 47. 
1319 
2. Specifically, inordinately desirous; exces- 
sively eager to obtain and possess, especially 
in an unlawful or unjust way ; carried away by 
avarice. 
A bishop then must lie ... patient, not a brawler, not 
corxtmi*. 1 Tim. III. 3. 
Ue Is to hue and cocctmu, 
He'll sell his swor.1 for gold. 
t'lrtchrr (and another). False One, Iv. 2. 
covetously (kuv'e-tus-li), adv. With a strong 
or inordinate desire to obtain and possess; ea- 
gerly; avariciously. 
If he care not for 't. he will supply us easily : If he eon- 
,'l,,ii.iln reserve it, li.nl shall ' i;el il ' 
Skat.,'Y. of A.,lv. S. 
covetousness (kuv'e-tun-nes), . [< covetous + 
-ness. The ME. equiv. term was covetise, q. v.] 
1. Strong desire; eagerness. [Bare or obso- 
lete.] 
When workmen strive to do better than well, 
They do confound their skill in cuvetoiume**. 
Shot., K. John, iv. 2. 
2. The character of being covetous, in an evil 
sense ; a strong or inordinate desire of obtain- 
ing and possessing something, without regard 
to law or justice ; overbearing avarice. 
Both parties had an inordinate desire to have that they 
had not, and that is cooetoufness. 
Latimer, Sermon bef. Edw. VI., 1560. 
Out of the heart of men proceed evil thoughts, . . . eoe- 
ttautneu. Mark vii. 22. 
The character of nretmuneiu is what a man generally 
acquires more through some niggardliness or ill grace in 
little and inconsiderable things than in expenses of any 
consequence. fVf, Thought* on Various Subjects. 
= 8yn. 2. Avarice, Cupidity, etc. (see avarice), greediness, 
hanKering. 
COvetta (ko-vet'S), n. [See Corel, coving.] A 
carpenters^ plane for molding framework; a 
quarter-round. 
covey 1 (kuv'i), n. [Early mod. E. also cot-it, 
< ME. corey, cove, < OF. coveye, covee, F. couree 
(= It. covata; also co-en, coro, and aug. covone 
Florio), a brood, a flock of birds, esp. of par- 
tridges, < cover, F. couver (= It. corare), brood, 
sit on, lurk, or lie hid : see cove%, and cf. cow- 
vade, a doublet of covfy 1 .] 1. In hunting, spe- 
cifically, a flock of partridges ; hence, in gen- 
eral use, a flock of any similar birds. 
The Sport and Race no more he minds ; 
Neglected Tray and Pointer He ; 
And Covies unmolested fly. Prior, Alma, 1. 
There would be no walking in a shady wood without 
springing a covey of toasts. Addiwn, Guardian. 
Mr. Harrison scared up some coveyt of the frankolin, a 
large bird resembling the pheasant. 
B. Taylor, Lands of the Saracen, p. 251. 
2. A company ; a party ; a bevy. 
Thou shalt have a monopoly of playing confirmed to 
thee and thy covey, under the emperor's broad seal. 
R. Jongon, Poetaster, v. 1. 
= Syn. Pact, Brood, etc. See/oct. 
COVOy 2 (ko'vi), n. [< coi'e + dim. -ry 1 .] Same 
as corfS. 
CO-vibrate (ko-vi'brat), r. '. [< co- 1 + vibrate.] 
To vibrate along with another or others. 
[Bare.] 
When the vibrations are so rapid that there are sixteen 
complete movements back and forth in a second, an en- 
tirely different sensation is produced, which we call sound ; 
... a special nerve the auditive is organized to re- 
spond to or co-viorate with them. 
Le Conte, Sight, Int., p. 12. 
COVid (ko'vid), n. [< Pg. coi'odo, also coto = Sp. 
codo = F. coude, a cubit, < L. cubituin, a cubit : 
see fiii'inlii, cubit. ] A variable measure of length 
in use in India and neighboring countries. The 
covids of Batavia, Madras, Bombay, ami Calcutta are stat- 
ed at from 18 to 18.6 inches ; those of Mocha and Sumatra 
at from 15 to 16 inches. The covid of China Is the chih. 
equal to 14.1 inches. 
COVin't (kuv'in), n. [Also covine, coren, < ME. 
covin, covine, covyne, coveyne, < AF. coring, OF. 
rorine, cornine, eoiiraine, later eouviaf, a se- 
cret agreement, a plot, < eotenir, come together, 
agree: see corenant.] 1. A secret agreement; 
secret fraud; collusion. 
Ye shall iiu.lv and plainly disclose, open, > tier an. I i . 
ueale, and shew the same vnto this said fellowship, with- 
out fraiHle, colour, couin, or delay. 
lltikhiiit'rt \'oyatjcx, I. 262. 
Specifically 2. In law, a collusive agreement 
between two or more to prejudice a third per- 
son ; deceitful contrivance. 
In 1383 they issued a proclamation forbidding all con- 
gregations, coviiit, mid conspiracies of workmen in gen- 
eral. Kni/Uik Otids (E. E. T. S.), Int., p. cxlvi. 
COViH-t, Saint' us curi lit. 
coving (ko'ving), H. [Verbal n. of pore 1 , r.] 
In bm/iliiiii. an urc'li or arched projecture, as 
when a house is built so as to project over the 
coward 
ground-plot, and the turned projecture is arched 
with timber, lathed, and plaMcre.!. 
The ritvin'i* were formerly placed At right angles t<> the 
face of the wall, and th rm iun-h>'l in that 
manner. u. h., p. 949. 
Covings Of a fireplace, the vertical sides whic -h cumin t 
tli. jauil \\ ith th<- hreast. 
covinoust (kuv'i-nus), a. [< corin + -o*.] De- 
ceitful; collusive; fraudulent. Also spcllcil 
cotenous. 
COVin-treet, . [< coriw 2 , coven?, for eocent, a 
meet in(;, + tree.] A tree marking a place of 
appointed or customary meeting; a tryst in^- 
tree ; specifically, such a tree in front of a man- 
sion or castle, marking the spot where the laird 
received and took leave of his guest. [Scotch.] 
I love not the castle when the conn-tree hears such 
acorns as I see yonder. Scull, giientln burward, I. 38. 
cow 1 (kou), n. ; pi. covs (kouz), old pi. I m> (kin). 
[< ME. coir, fcoir, COM, CM, kit, pi. A-y, kye, kit, 
kuy (> mod. Sc. kye), also in double pi. form 
(with suffix -en as in oxen), Icyn, kin, kucn, kuyn, 
l.ii/n, kien, kine (> modern kine), < AS. cu, dat. 
sing, and nom. ace. pi. <</. a cow, = OS. In. 
left, kuo = OFries. ku = I), koe = MLG. fco, leu, 
LG. ko = OHO. chuo, chua, MHO. kuo, ku, Q. 
kuh = Icel. kyr (ace. ku) = Sw. Dan. ko (Goth, 
not found), a cow, = Olr. bo = Gael, bo, a cow, 
= W. biw, cattle, kine, = L. bos (bov-), m., 
also f. (the fern, being also more distinctly ex- 
pressed by boafemina, or else by another word, 
vacca, a cow, related to E. ox), an ox, a bull or 
cow (whence ult. E. beef (which is thus a doub- 
let of coir), borine, etc.), = Gr. /tet'C (PF-), m. and 
f ., an ox, a bull or cow, = Skt. go, a cow, a bull.] 
1. The female of the genus Bos or ox (the male 
of which is called a bull, or in a restricted 
sense an ox). See ox. 2. The female of vari- 
ous other large animals, the male of which is 
termed a Imll. as of many ruminants, of eared 
seals, etc. 3f. A timid person; a coward. 
The veriest cow in a company brags most. 
Cotgratc (under critr). 
Humble cow. See humble. 
COW 2 (kou), v. t. [< ME. 'coueu (f ), not found, 
< Icel. kuaa, cow, force, tyrannize over, = Sw. 
kufra, check, curb, subdue, = Dan. kue, bow, 
coerce, subdue; further connections unknown.] 
To depress with fear; cause to shrink or crouch 
with fear; daunt the spirits or courage of; in- 
timidate; overawe. 
Accursed lie that tongue that tells me so, 
For It hath coufd my better part of man ! 
Shak., Macbeth, v. 7. 
Their [the Indians'] spirits are humiliated and debased 
by a sense of inferiority, and their native courage cotcfd 
and daunted by the superior knowledge and power of their 
enlightened neighbors. Irving, Sketch-Book, p. 344. 
Cowed into sullen rage. 
William JHorru, Earthly Paradise, II. 34. 
Syn. To overawe, intimidate, abash, daunt. 
COW 3 (kou), n. [Origin obscure.] 1. In rnt'n- 
ing, a wedge placed behind a crab or gin-start 
to prevent it from revolving. 2. A kind of 
self-acting brake formerly employed on inclined 
planes; a trailer. /.'. //. Knight. 
COW 4 (kou), n. [A reduced form of coir/ 1 , q. v.] 
The top of a chimney which is made to move 
with the wind; a cowl. See coir/1, 3. 
COW 5 t (kou), . t. [A var. of coH: see coin.] 
To cut; clip. [Scotch.] 
But we will cow our yellow locks, 
A little abune our bree. 
Wedding of Rabin Hood and Little John (Child's Ballads. 
[V. 184). 
COW 8 t (kou), n. [< cow 6 , r.] A cut or clip, es- 
pecially of the hair: as, he has gone to the bar- 
ber's to get a coir. [Scotch.] 
cowage, n. See cotchage. 
coward (kou'ard), n. and a. [< ME. coward, cou- 
ard, cveard (= OFlem. kuwaerd = Pr. court = 
OSp. couarde, cobarde, cobardo, Sp. cobarde = 
Pg. cobarde, covarde = It. codardo, a coward, 
cowardly ; all these being appar. derived from 
or adapted from the OF.), < AF. ctmard, couart, 
cuard, OF. coward (coiiard), coirard, couart. ru- 
art, coart, F. eouard, a coward, orig. as an epi- 
thet of the timid hare (called In coicarde ou la 
court cotce, 'the bobtail'; > OFlem. kuirm-ril. 
M K. Cuu-aert, Hytcart, as the name of the hare in 
' ' Beynard, the Fox," tr. by Caxton ; ML. cua nlnx. 
a hare), with allusion also perhaps to a cowed 
dog with its tail between its legs (cf. OF. Kon 
eouard, in heraldry, a lion with its tail between 
its legs), orig. an adj., with the depreciative 
suffix -ard, 'having a (short, drooping, or other- 
wise ridiculous) tail' (cf. OF. coiinrdi; f., a tail, 
i-ininrt, in., a rump or haunch, as of venison). 
< OF. coue, cotce, coe, F. queue = Pr. coa = Sp. 
