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Coven vs Cove - What's the difference?

coven | cove |

As nouns the difference between coven and cove

is that coven is a clique that shares common interests or activities while cove is a hollow in a rock; a cave or cavern.

As a verb cove is

to arch over; to build in a hollow concave form; to make in the form of a cove.

As a proper noun Cove is

a town in Arkansas.

coven

English

(wikipedia coven)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A clique that shares common interests or activities.
  • * 1986 , , Penguin, paperback edition, page 12
    • “This is a very African area”, he said as they maneuvered their way among the covens of menacing children gathered in the halls.
  • A formal group or assembly of witches.

    • Derived terms

    * covener, covenstead, covendom

    cove

    English

    (wikipedia cove)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) cofa, from (etyl) . Cognate with German Koben, Swedish kofva. This word has probably survived as long as it has due to its coincidental phonetic resemblence to the unrelated word "cave".

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (architecture) A concave vault or archway, especially the arch of a ceiling.
  • A small coastal inlet, especially one having high cliffs protecting vessels from prevailing winds.
  • * Holland
    • vessels which were in readiness for him within secret coves and nooks
  • (US) A strip of prairie extending into woodland.
  • A recess or sheltered area on the slopes of a mountain.
  • (nautical) The wooden roof of the stern gallery of an old sailing warship.
  • (nautical) A thin line, sometimes gilded, along a yacht's strake below deck level.

    • Verb

    (cov)
  • (architecture) To arch over; to build in a hollow concave form; to make in the form of a cove.
  • * H. Swinburne
    • The mosques and other buildings of the Arabians are rounded into domes and coved roofs.

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) . Perhaps change in consonants due to lower class th-fronting.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (British) A fellow; a man.
  • (Australia) A friend; a mate.
    • Derived terms
    * Abram cove * badge-cove * bang up cove

    Etymology 3

    Compare (etyl) couver, (etyl) covare. See covey.

    Verb

    (cov)
  • To brood, cover, over, or sit over, as birds their eggs.
  • * Holland
    • Not being able to cove or sit upon them [eggs], she [the female tortoise] bestoweth them in the gravel.
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