COVENANT
covenant
(noun) (Bible) an agreement between God and his people in which God makes certain promises and requires certain behavior from them in return
covenant, compact, concordat
(noun) a signed written agreement between two or more parties (nations) to perform some action
covenant
(verb) enter into a covenant or formal agreement; “They covenanted with Judas for 30 pieces of silver”; “The nations covenanted to fight terrorism around the world”
covenant
(verb) enter into a covenant
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
covenant (plural covenants)
(legal) An agreement to do or not do a particular thing.
(legal) A promise, incidental to a deed or contract, either express or implied.
A pact or binding agreement between two or more parties.
An incidental clause in an agreement.
Synonyms
• pact
• agreement
Verb
covenant (third-person singular simple present covenants, present participle covenanting, simple past and past participle covenanted)
To enter into, or promise something by, a covenant.
(legal) To enter a formal agreement.
(legal) To bind oneself in contract.
(legal) To make a stipulation.
Source: Wiktionary
Cov"e*nant (kv"-nant), n. Etym: [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.)
Definition: 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. Macualay.
3. (Theol.)
Definition: 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 (kv"-nnt), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Covenanted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Covenanting.]
Definition: 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.
Definition: To grant or promise by covenant.
My covenant of peace that I covenanted with you. Wyclif.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition