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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Cover

Cōv'er, v. t.

verbtransitive

(kŭv'er), v. t. [imp. & p. p. COVERED; p. pr. & vb. n. COVERING.] [O. Fr. couvrir, N. Fr. couvrir, Pr. cubrir, Sp. & Pg. cubrir, It. coprire, from Lat. cooperire, from co, for con, and operire, to cover.] 1. To overspread or envelop the surface or the whole body of; to lay or set over; to enwrap; to infold. *And with the majesty of darkness round Covers his home. Milton.* 2. To brood or sit on. While the hen is covering her eggs, the male generally takes his stand on a neighboring bough. Addison. 3. To hide from sight; to conceal; to cloak. In vain thou striv'st to cover shame with shame. Milton. 4. To place under shelter, as from evil or danger; to protect; to defend; to assure. *His calm and blameless life Does with substantial blessedness abound, And the soft wings of peace cover him round. Cowley.*

  1. To extend over; to be sufficient for; to comprehend or include; to account for or solve; to counterbalance; as, a mortgage which fully covers a sum loaned on it; a law which covers all possible cases of a crime; receipts that do not cover expenses.
  2. To put on the usual head-dress, as a hat, a vail, &c.

Cover thy head, cover thy head; nay, prithee, be covered. Shak. 7. To copulate with; — said of the male. Syn. — To shelter; screen; shield; hide; overspread.

Cōv'er, n.

noun

(kŭv'er), n. 1. Any thing which is laid, set, or spread upon, about, or over another; an envelope; a lid.

Sense 2. Any thing which vails or conceals; a screen; disguise; a cloak. “A handsome cover for imperfections.” Collier.

Sense 3. The condition of concealment, shelter, or defense; protection.

Being compelled to lodge in the field . . . whilst his army was under cover, they might be forced to retire. Clarendon.

Sense 4. (Hunting.) The woods, underbrush, &c., which shelter and conceal game; as, to beat a cover; to ride to cover.

Sense 5. [Fr. couverte.] A table-cloth, and the other table furniture; especially, the table furniture for the use of one person at a meal; as, a dinner of fifty covers.