King James Bible Dictionary

COVER, verb transitive [Latin]

1. To overspread the surface of a thing with another substance; to lay or set over; as, to cover a table with a cloth, or a floor with a carpet.

The valleys are covered with corn. Psalms 65:13.

The locusts shall cover the face of the earth. Exodus 5:1.

2. To hide; to conceal by something overspread.

If I say, surely the darkness shall cover me-- Psalms 139:11.

3. To conceal by some intervening object; as, the enemy was covered from our sight by a forest.

4. To clothe; as, to cover with a robe or mantle; to cover nakedness. 1 Samuel 28:14. Exodus 28:42.

5. To overwhelm.

The waters covered the chariots and horsemen. Exo 14.

Let them be covered with reproach. Psa 71.

6. To conceal from notice or punishment.

Charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8.

7. To conceal; to refrain from disclosing or confessing.

He that covereth his sin shall not prosper. Proverbs 28:13.

8. To pardon or remit.

Blessed is he whose sin is covered. Psa 32.

9. To vail, applied to women. 1 Corinthians 11:7. To wear a hat, applied to men. Be covered, sir.

10. To wrap, infold or envelop; as, to cover a package of goods.

11. To shelter; to protect; to defend. A squadron of horse covered the troops on the retreat.

And the soft wings of peace cover him around.

12. To brood; to incubate; as, a hen covering her eggs.

13. To copulate with a female.

14. To equal, or be of equal extent; to be equivalent to; as, the receipts do not cover the expenses; a mercantile use of the word.

15. To disguise; to conceal hypocritically.

16. To include, embrace or comprehend. This land was covered by a mortgage.

COVER, noun

1. Any thing which is laid, set or spread over another thing; as the cover of a vessel; the cover of a bed.

2. Any thing which vails or conceals; a screen; disguise; superficial appearance. Affected gravity may serve as a cover for a deceitful heart.

3. Shelter; defense; protection. The troops fought under cover of the batteries.

4. Concealment and protection. The army advanced under cover of the night.

5. Shelter; retreat; in hunting.

COVERCHIEF,noun A covering of the head.

COVERCLE, noun A small cover; a lid.

COVERED, participle passive Spread over; hid; concealed; clothed; vailed; having a hat on; wrapped; inclosed; sheltered; protected; disguised.

COVERING, participle present tense Spreading over; laying over; concealing; vailing; clothing; wrapping; inclosing; protecting; disguising.

COVERING, noun

1. That which convers; any thing spread or laid over another, whether for security or concealment.

Noah removed the covering of the ark. Genesis 8:13.

He spread a cloud for a covering Psalms 105:39.

Destruction hath no covering Job 26:6.

2. A cover; a lid.

Every open vessel that hath no covering Numbers 19:15.

3. Clothing; raiment; garments; dress.

They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold. Job 24:7.

Occurs only in Genesis 20:16. In the Revised Version the rendering is "it (i.e., Abimelech's present of 1,000 pieces of silver to Abraham) is for thee a covering of the eyes." This has been regarded as an implied advice to Sarah to conform to the custom of married women, and wear a complete veil, covering the eyes as well as the rest of the face.

COVERLET, noun [cover, and a bed.] The cover of a bed; a piece of furniture designed to be spread over all the other covering of a bed.

COVER-SHAME, noun Something used to conceal infamy.

COVERT, adjective

1. Covered; hid; private; secret; concealed.

Whether of open war, or covert guile.

2. Disguised; insidious.

3. Sheltered; not open or exposed; as a covert alley, or place.

4. Under cover, authority or protection; as a feme-covert, a married woman who is considered as being under the influence and protection of her husband.

COVERT, noun

1. A covering, or covering place; a place which covers and shelters; a shelter; a defense.

A tabernacle--for a covert from storm and rain. Isaiah 4:6.

I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Psalms 111:1.

2. A thicket; a shady place, or a hiding place. 1 Samuel 25:20. Job 38:40.

COVERTLY, adverb Secretly; closely; in private; insidiously.

Among the poets, Persius covertly strikes at Nero.

COVERTNESS, noun Secrecy; privacy.

COVERTURE, noun

1. Covering; shelter; defense.

2. In law, the state of a married woman, who is considered as under cover, or the power of her husband, and therefore called a feme-covert, or femme-couvert. The coverture of a woman disables her from making contracts to the prejudice of herself or husband, without his allowance or confirmation.

COVERT-WAY, noun In fortification, a space of ground level with the field, on the edge of the ditch, three or four fathoms broad, ranging quite round the half moons or other works, towards the country. It has a parapet raised on a level, together with its banquets and glacis. It is called also the corridor, and sometimes the counterscarp, because it is on the edge of the scarp.