Also 4–6 couenaunt, (4 pa. pple. y-couenaunt, 5 cumnawntyn, 6 comnaunt), 6 conuenant, -aunt, 7 covnant. [f. the sb.: cf. COVENANCE v.]
1. intr. To enter into a covenant or formal agreement; to agree formally or solemnly; to contract.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 108. Cumnawntyn, or make a cumnawnte, convenio, pango.
1536. in Thynne’s Animadv., Introd. 28. John Wylkynson … hath convenanted and bargayned with Edmunde Pekham.
1596. Spenser, State Irel. (1633), 57. The reason why the landlord will no longer covenant with him.
1611. Bible, Matt. xxvi. 15. They couenanted with him for thirtie pieces of siluer.
1665. Manley, Grotius’ Low C. Warres, 666. They had jointly Covenanted against Foreign Dominion and Tyranny.
1765. Blackstone, Comm., I. 562. A man cannot grant any thing to his wife, or enter into covenant with her: for … to covenant with her, would be only to covenant with himself.
1843. Carlyle, Past & Pr. (1858), 185. Did I not pay them … the sum covenanted for?
b. with infin. or clause, expressing purpose or purport.
c. 1314. [see COVENANT pa. pple.].
c. 1394. P. Pl. Crede, 38. A Carm me haþ y-couenaunt þe Crede me to teche.
1555. Eden, Decades, 140. They couenaunted with hym to paye yearely a hundreth pounde weyght of perles.
1645. Direct. Publ. Worship, in Scobell, Acts & Ord., I. li. (1658), 87. I M. do take thee N. to be my married Wife, and do … promise and covenant to be a loving and faithfull Husband unto thee.
1661. Bramhall, Just. Vind., vii. 182. The King of the Romans and Electors did covenant mutually to assist and defend one another.
1768. Sterne, Sent. Journ. (1778), II. 120. I had covenanted at Montruil to give him a new hat with a silver button and loop.
1819. Arnold, in Stanley, Life & Corr. (1844), I. ii. 59. Did you not covenant to write to me first?
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., IV. 552. An agreement by which the Company had covenanted to furnish a person named Colston with two hundred tons of saltpetre.
2. trans. To agree or subscribe to by covenant; to agree formally to give or do (something).
1382. Wyclif, Ex. xxxiv. 27. Thes wordes with which I haue couenauntide a boond of pees.
c. 1500. Melusine, 155. Ye conuenaunted with me a yefte whiche I purpose now to take.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss. (1812), I. ccccxlix. 794. These maryages were sworne and couenaunted.
1530. Palsgr., 503 s.v. That that I comnaunt with you shall be parfourmed.
1670. Milton, Hist. Eng. (1851), 22. The Tribute Covnanted to Belinus for his enlargement.
1849. Grote, Hist. Greece, II. lxii. (1862), V. 374. Nothing is covenanted as to any remainder.
1861. Pearson, Early & Mid. Ages Eng., 179. She refused to pay the witch who had assisted her the sum covenanted.
3. To make it a condition or clause of an agreement, to stipulate. (with obj. clause.)
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., III. (1586), 153 b. The old husbandes in hiring of a shepehearde, did alwaies covenant among others, that he should be sound of body and limme.
c. 1592. Marlowe, Massacre Paris, II. Wks. (Rtldg.), 234/1. With Poland, therefore, must I covenant thus, That if [etc.].
1700. Congreve, Way of World, IV. v. Imprimis then, I covenant that your acquaintance be general … Item, I article that you continue to like your own face, as long as I shall.
† 4. To take the Covenant: see COVENANT sb. 9.
1661. R. L’Estrange, Interest Mistaken, 25. Reverend Divines reduced to begge their Bread, because they would not Covenant.
† 5. trans. To covenant out: to exclude or expel by covenant. Obs.
1661. Mercurius Caledonius, 1 March. That laudable custom of suppers, which was covenanted out … is again in fashion.
