Definition of COVENANT (original) (raw)
1
: a usually formal, solemn, and binding agreement : compact
… international law, which depends upon the sanctity of covenants between rulers.—
George H. Sabine
2
a
: a written agreement or promise usually under seal between two or more parties especially for the performance of some action
the deed conveying the land contained restrictive covenants
b
: the common-law action to recover damages for breach of such a contract
Synonyms
Examples of covenant in a Sentence
Noun
an international covenant on human rights The restrictive covenants of the building development prohibit the construction of buildings over 30 feet tall. Verb
a traditional rule held that a husband could not enter into a covenant with his wife, because that was the equivalent of covenanting with himself the home buyers had to covenant that they would restore and keep the house for at least 10 years in exchange for a low mortgage rate
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The loan is secured by substantially all of the company's assets and includes financial covenants. —Quartz Bot, Quartz, 13 Dec. 2024 Private debt agreements often include covenants that offer greater protection to the lender. —Fred Hubler, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024 Ask your real estate agent or the home seller’s agent for a copy of all the HOA paperwork like covenants, bylaws, fee schedule, rules and regulations, experts say. —Ana Teresa Solá, CNBC, 2 Dec. 2024 The company reported non-compliance with certain financial covenants under its M&T Credit Agreement (MTB-0.52%) but obtained temporary waivers. —Quartz Bot, Quartz, 18 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for covenant 
Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from present participle of covenir to be fitting, from Latin convenire
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Time Traveler
The first known use of covenant was in the 14th century
Dictionary Entries Near covenant
Cite this Entry
“Covenant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/covenant. Accessed 28 Dec. 2024.
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Last Updated: 26 Dec 2024 - Updated example sentences
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