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Audio Help [kuhv-uh-nuhnt] Pronunciation Key | 1. | an agreement, usually formal, between two or more persons to do or not do something specified. |
| 2. | Law. an incidental clause in such an agreement. |
| 3. | Ecclesiastical. a solemn agreement between the members of a church to act together in harmony with the precepts of the gospel. |
| 4. | (initial capital letter) History/Historical.
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| 5. | Bible.
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| 6. | Law.
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| 7. | Covenant of the League of Nations. |
| 8. | to enter into a covenant. |
| 9. | to promise by covenant; pledge. |
| 10. | to stipulate. |
] —Related forms
| Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006. |
Covenant
To learn more about Covenant visit Britannica.com
| © 2008 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. |
| cov·e·nant
Audio Help (kŭv'ə-nənt) Pronunciation Key
n.
v. cov·e·nant·ed, cov·e·nant·ing, cov·e·nants v. tr. To promise by or as if by a covenant. v. intr. To enter into a covenant. [Middle English, from Old French, from present participle of convenir, to agree; see convene.] cov'e·nant'al (-nān'tl) adj., cov'e·nant'al·ly adv. |
| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
covenant
| Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper |
| covenant | |
noun | |
| 1. | a signed written agreement between two or more parties (nations) to perform some action |
| 2. | (Bible) an agreement between God and his people in which God makes certain promises and requires certain behavior from them in return |
verb | |
| 1. | enter into a covenant |
| 2. | 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" |
| WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University. |
covenant [ˈkavənənt] noun
Example: She signed a covenant to give money to the school fund.
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| Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary, © 2000-2006 K Dictionaries Ltd. |
covenant
Literally, a contract. In the Bible, an agreement between God and his people, in which God makes promises to his people and, usually, requires certain conduct from them. In the Old Testament, God made agreements with Noah, Abraham, and Moses. To Noah, he promised that he would never again destroy the Earth with a flood. He promised Abraham that he would become the ancestor of a great nation, provided Abraham went to the place God showed him and sealed the covenant by circumcision of all the males of the nation. To Moses, God said that the Israelites would reach the Promised Land but must obey the Mosaic law. In the New Testament, God promised salvation to those who believe in Jesus.
[Chapter:] The Bible
| The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
Covenant
A promise in an indenture, or any other formal debt agreement, that certain activities will or will not be carried out.
Investopedia Commentary
The purpose of a covenant is to give the lender more security. Covenants can cover everything from minimum dividend payments to levels that must be maintained in working capital.
Related Links
Red Flag Phrases: "Material Adverse Effect"
See also: Indenture, Negative Covenant
| Investopedia.com. Copyright © 1999-2005 - All rights reserved. Owned and Operated by Investopedia Inc. |
covenant
- A clause in a loan agreement written to protect the lender's claim by keeping the borrower's financial position approximately the same as it was at the time the loanagreement was made. Essentially, covenants spell out what the borrower may do and must do in order to satisfy the terms of the loan. For example, the borrower may be prohibited from issuing more debtby using certain assets as collateral. Likewise, the borrower may be required to issue reports to bondholders on certain dates. Also called protective covenant, restrictive covenant. See alsonegative covenant, positivecovenant.
Case Study In February 2002 Qwest Communications issued a warning that the companywas in danger of violating a bank loan covenant by the end of June. A major slump in the telecom business combined with heavy indebtedness caused concern that the firm's debt would exceed the specifiedmaximum of 3.75 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. A month later the company announced that in return for agreeing to use $608 million from a $1.5 billion bond issue toreduce bank debt, the bankers agreed to a concession that raised the covenant maximum to 4.25 until the end of September, and 4.00 during the following six months. The covenant had been included aspart of the original bank loan agreement in order to help insure that Qwest could continue to meet its existing obligations before taking on additional debt. |
| Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms for Today's Investor by David L. Scott. Copyright © 2003 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. |
Main Entry: cov·e·nant
Pronunciation: 'k&-v&-n&nt
Function: noun
1 : an official agreement or compact <an internationalcovenant on human rights>
2 a : a contract in its entirety or a promise within a contract for the performance or nonperformance of a particular act <a covenant notto sue>; specifically : a promise relating to the transfer, possession, or ownership of real property —see also RESTRICTIVE COVENANT b : a warranty in a deed assuring thegrantee esp. against defects in title <a covenant for quiet enjoyment> —see also RUN
3 : acommon-law action to recover damages for breach of a contract under seal —compare ASSUMPSIT, DEBT —covenant verb
| Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc. |
Covenant Life, AK (CDP, FIPS 17670) Location: 59.41723 N, 136.02513 W
Population (1990): 47 (16 housing units)
Area: 39.7 sq km (land), 1.0 sq km (water)
| U.S. Gazetteer, U.S. Census Bureau |
Covenant
Com"pact\, n. [L. compactum, fr. compacisci, p. p. compactus, to make an agreement with; com- + pacisci to make an agreement. See Pact.] An agreement between parties; a covenant or contract. The law of nations depends on mutual compacts, treaties, leagues, etc. --Blackstone. Wedlock is described as the indissoluble compact. --Macaulay. The federal constitution has been styled a compact between the States by which it was ratified. --Wharton. Syn: See Covenant.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
Covenant
Con"tract\, n. [L. contractus, fr. contrahere: cf. F. contrat, formerly also contract.]1. (Law) The agreement of two or more persons, upon a sufficient consideration or cause, to do, or to abstain from doing, some act; an agreement in which a party undertakes to do, or not to do, a particular thing; a formal bargain; a compact; an interchange of legal rights. --Wharton. 2. A formal writing which contains the agreement of parties, with the terms and conditions, and which serves as a proof of the obligation. 3. The act of formally betrothing a man and woman. This is the the night of the contract. --Longwellow. Syn: Covenant; agreement; compact; stipulation; bargain; arrangement; obligation. See Covenant.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
Covenant
Con*vene"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Convened; p. pr. & vb. n. Convenong.] [L. convenire; con- + venire to come: cf. F. convenir to agree, to be fitting, OF. also, to assemble. See Come, and cf. Covenant.]1. To come together; to meet; to unite. [R.] In shortsighted men . . . the rays converge and convene in the eyes before they come at the bottom. --Sir I. Newton. 2. To come together, as in one body or for a public purpose; to meet; to assemble. --Locke. The Parliament of Scotland now convened. --Sir R. Baker. Faint, underneath, the household fowls convene. --Thomson. Syn: To meet; to assemble; to congregate; to collect; to unite.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
Covenant
a contract or agreement between two parties. In the Old Testament the Hebrew word _berith_ is always thus translated. _Berith_ is derived from a root which means "to cut," and hence a covenant is a "cutting," with reference to the cutting or dividing of animals into two parts, and the contracting parties passing between them, in making a covenant (Gen. 15; Jer. 34:18, 19). The corresponding word in the New Testament Greek is _diatheke_, which is, however, rendered "testament" generally in the Authorized Version. It ought to be rendered, just as the word _berith_ of the Old Testament, "covenant." This word is used (1) of a covenant or compact between man and man (Gen. 21:32), or between tribes or nations (1 Sam. 11:1; Josh. 9:6, 15). In entering into a convenant, Jehovah was solemnly called on to witness the transaction (Gen. 31:50), and hence it was called a "covenant of the Lord" (1 Sam. 20:8). The marriage compact is called "the covenant of God" (Prov. 2:17), because the marriage was made in God's name. Wicked men are spoken of as acting as if they had made a "covenant with death" not to destroy them, or with hell not to devour them (Isa. 28:15, 18). (2.) The word is used with reference to God's revelation of himself in the way of promise or of favour to men. Thus God's promise to Noah after the Flood is called a covenant (Gen. 9; Jer. 33:20, "my covenant"). We have an account of God's covernant with Abraham (Gen. 17, comp. Lev. 26:42), of the covenant of the priesthood (Num. 25:12, 13; Deut. 33:9; Neh. 13:29), and of the covenant of Sinai (Ex. 34:27, 28; Lev. 26:15), which was afterwards renewed at different times in the history of Israel (Deut. 29; Josh. 1:24; 2 Chr. 15; 23; 29; 34; Ezra 10; Neh. 9). In conformity with human custom, God's covenant is said to be confirmed with an oath (Deut. 4:31; Ps. 89:3), and to be accompanied by a sign (Gen. 9; 17). Hence the covenant is called God's "counsel," "oath," "promise" (Ps. 89:3, 4; 105:8-11; Heb. 6:13-20; Luke 1:68-75). God's covenant consists wholly in the bestowal of blessing (Isa. 59:21; Jer. 31:33, 34). The term covenant is also used to designate the regular succession of day and night (Jer. 33:20), the Sabbath (Ex. 31:16), circumcision (Gen. 17:9, 10), and in general any ordinance of God (Jer. 34:13, 14). A "covenant of salt" signifies an everlasting covenant, in the sealing or ratifying of which salt, as an emblem of perpetuity, is used (Num. 18:19; Lev. 2:13; 2 Chr. 13:5). COVENANT OF WORKS, the constitution under which Adam was placed at his creation. In this covenant, (1.) The contracting parties were (a) God the moral Governor, and (b) Adam, a free moral agent, and representative of all his natural posterity (Rom. 5:12-19). (2.) The promise was "life" (Matt. 19:16, 17; Gal. 3:12). (3.) The condition was perfect obedience to the law, the test in this case being abstaining from eating the fruit of the "tree of knowledge," etc. (4.) The penalty was death (Gen. 2:16, 17). This covenant is also called a covenant of nature, as made with man in his natural or unfallen state; a covenant of life, because "life" was the promise attached to obedience; and a legal covenant, because it demanded perfect obedience to the law. The "tree of life" was the outward sign and seal of that life which was promised in the covenant, and hence it is usually called the seal of that covenant. This covenant is abrogated under the gospel, inasmuch as Christ has fulfilled all its conditions in behalf of his people, and now offers salvation on the condition of faith. It is still in force, however, as it rests on the immutable justice of God, and is binding on all who have not fled to Christ and accepted his righteousness. CONVENANT OF GRACE, the eternal plan of redemption entered into by the three persons of the Godhead, and carried out by them in its several parts. In it the Father represented the Godhead in its indivisible sovereignty, and the Son his people as their surety (John 17:4, 6, 9; Isa. 42:6; Ps. 89:3). The conditions of this covenant were, (1.) On the part of the Father (a) all needful preparation to the Son for the accomplishment of his work (Heb. 10:5; Isa. 42:1-7); (b) support in the work (Luke 22:43); and (c) a glorious reward in the exaltation of Christ when his work was done (Phil. 2:6-11), his investiture with universal dominion (John 5:22; Ps. 110:1), his having the administration of the covenant committed into his hands (Matt. 28:18; John 1:12; 17:2; Acts 2:33), and in the final salvation of all his people (Isa. 35:10; 53:10, 11; Jer. 31:33; Titus 1:2). (2.) On the part of the Son the conditions were (a) his becoming incarnate (Gal. 4:4, 5); and (b) as the second Adam his representing all his people, assuming their place and undertaking all their obligations under the violated covenant of works; (c) obeying the law (Ps. 40:8; Isa. 42:21; John 9:4, 5), and (d) suffering its penalty (Isa. 53; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13), in their stead. Christ, the mediator of, fulfils all its conditions in behalf of his people, and dispenses to them all its blessings. In Heb. 8:6; 9:15; 12:24, this title is given to Christ. (See DISPENSATION.)
| Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary |
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