covenant
KUV-uh-nunt
/ˈkʌvənənt/
A formal and serious agreement or promise, often with a religious or sacred quality.
Carries a much deeper sense of solemnity and permanence than a simple 'pact' or 'contract'.
The story behind the word. From Old French 'covenant', derived from the Latin 'convenire' (to come together). It implies a meeting of minds and spirits in a shared promise.
Word relationships
- treaty: Treaty is the standard legal term for international agreements.
- pact: Pact is less formal and lacks the sacred connotation of covenant.
- breach: A breach is the act of breaking a promise or agreement.
Commonly confused with
- contract: A contract is a legal business document; a covenant is a solemn, often moral or religious, promise.
Word family
- covenanted (verb): To agree by lease, deed, or other legal contract.
Collocations
- sacred covenant
- binding covenant
- break a covenant
- international covenant
Example sentences
- "The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is a multilateral treaty adopted by the UN General Assembly." International Law
- "In the Bible, the covenant between God and Abraham is a foundational element of faith." Religion
Memory hook
A covenant is a 'covered' and sacred promise that shouldn't be broken. Sacred agreement.
When not to use
Too heavy for casual or purely business agreements unless you want to sound archaic or dramatic.
Fun facts
- In real estate, a 'restrictive covenant' is a clause in a deed that limits what the owner can do with the property.
Also appears in
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