Cov"e*nant (k?v"?-nant), n.
[OF. covenant, fr. F. & OF. convenir to agree, L.
convenire. See Convene.]
1. A mutual agreement of two or more
persons or parties, or one of the stipulations in such an
agreement.
Then Jonathan and David made a
covenant.
1 Sam. xviiii. 3.
Let there be covenants drawn between
us.
Shak.
If we conclude a peace,
It shall be with such strict and severe covenants
As little shall the Frenchmen gain thereby.
Shak.
2. (Eccl. Hist.) An agreement made
by the Scottish Parliament in 1638, and by the English Parliament
in 1643, to preserve the reformed religion in Scotland, and to
extirpate popery and prelacy; -- usually called the "Solemn
League and Covenant."
He [Wharton] was born in the days of the
Covenant, and was the heir of a covenanted house.
Macaulay.
3. (Theol.) The promises of God as
revealed in the Scriptures, conditioned on certain terms on the
part of man, as obedience, repentance, faith, etc.
I will establish my covenant between me and
thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an
everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy
seed after thee.
Gen. xvii. 7.
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.
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.
Cov"e*nant, v. t. To grant or
promise by covenant.
My covenant of peace that I covenanted with
you.
Wyclif.
