covenant

Pluralcovenants

Formscovenants, covenanting, covenanted

1. 1
   pactnouncountable

   A binding agreement or pact made between two or more parties.

   The tribes renewed their ancient covenant of peace at a ceremony by the river.

   In the novel, the rival kings seal a covenant with a handshake and a shared meal.

   Similarpact, agreement, treaty, compact, alliance

2. 2
   nouncountable

   A legal agreement to do, or not to do, some particular thing.

   The former partners signed a covenant not to sue each other over the failed venture.

   In exchange for the grant, the town entered into a covenant to maintain the park for public use.

   Similaragreement, contract, undertaking, pledge

   Note

   Behind the word is Latin conveniō, “to agree”, the source of convenient and convene as well. Lawyers sort these agreements into affirmative covenants, which require something, and negative or restrictive ones, which forbid something; the negative kind turns up in phrases such as a covenant not to compete or a covenant not to sue.

3. 3
   verbintransitive

   To make a binding agreement with someone, or to promise something by making one.

   In the old tale, the farmer covenanted with the river spirit for a good harvest.

   Members of the congregation covenant to support one another in times of need.

   Similaragree, promise, pledge, contract

   Note

   The verb takes with for the other party and, when there is one, for for the price: in the King James Bible of 1611 they “covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver”. Roger L'Estrange, in 1692, has Jupiter covenant with a tenant over the weather itself.

4. 4
   contract clausenouncountable

   A secondary promise attached to a deed or contract, either stated outright or implied.

   The court found that the buyer had breached an implied covenant of good faith in the sale contract.

   The deed includes covenants that the seller has the right to transfer the property and that no one else claims it.

   Similarpromise, undertaking, warranty

   Note

   Express covenants are written into the document; implied ones are read into it by the law even though nobody wrote them down. A lease carries a covenant of quiet enjoyment whether or not the words appear, and courts often find a covenant of good faith in ordinary contracts.

5. 5
   contract clausenouncountable

   A secondary clause within an agreement, setting out a further condition or obligation.

   The bank agreed to waive one covenant in the loan agreement after the company's sales fell.

   The lawyers spent the afternoon rewording the covenants buried in the back of the contract.

   Similarclause, condition, provision, term

6. 6
   bind yourselfverbintransitive

   To enter into a formal agreement, binding oneself by contract.

   The parties covenant to keep the terms of the settlement confidential.

   Under the lease, the landlord covenanted to keep the roof and outside walls in good repair.

   Similaragree, undertake, contract, promise

   Note

   In leases and deeds the verb is usually followed by to and another verb, and its subject is whoever takes on the duty: the tenant covenants to pay the rent, the landlord to keep the roof in repair. It is the drafter's word for a promise meant to be enforced, a step more formal than agree.

7. 7
   verbtransitive

   To lay down a condition or requirement as a term of an agreement.

   The original owners covenanted that the house must never be torn down.

   In the treaty, both governments covenant that the river will stay open to fishing boats.

   Similarstipulate, specify, provide

   Note

   Where the duty-taking use binds a party to act, this one fixes a term of the bargain, usually with that and a clause saying what must or must never happen. It belongs to deeds, treaties and other formal agreements rather than to everyday talk.

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