Covenant

/ˈkʌv.ən.ənt/

Meaning & Definition

noun
A formal agreement or promise between two or more parties, often involving mutual commitments and obligations.
The two countries entered into a covenant to promote peace and cooperation.
A binding agreement set out in a written document, especially in a legal context.
The landlord and tenant signed a covenant outlining the terms of the lease.
In a religious context, a sacred agreement between God and humanity.
The Old Testament describes the covenant between God and the Israelites.
verb
To enter into a formal agreement or promise.
They decided to covenant their support for the new charity initiative.

Etymology

From Middle English 'covenant', from Old French 'covenant', from Latin 'convenire', meaning 'to come together'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

break a covenant
To violate a formal agreement.
new covenant
A fresh agreement, often referring to religious or spiritual agreements.
social covenant
An agreement among members of a society to cooperate for social benefits.

Related Words

agreement
A mutual arrangement between two or more parties.
contract
A written or spoken agreement that is enforceable by law.
treaty
A formally concluded and ratified agreement between countries.

Slang Meanings

To make a deal or agreement informally.
We just covenanted over coffee about the plans for the weekend.
To commit to something.
I'm gonna covenant to help you with your project!