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Coven vs Cozen - What's the difference?

coven | cozen |

As a noun coven

is a clique that shares common interests or activities.

As a verb cozen is

to cheat; to defraud; to beguile; to deceive, usually by small arts, or in a pitiful way.

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

    cozen

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (archaic) To cheat; to defraud; to beguile; to deceive, usually by small arts, or in a pitiful way.
  • * 1602 , , Act III, Scene 2,
    • What devil was't / That thus hath cozen'd you at hoodman-blind?
  • * , 1851, The Whole Works of the Right Rev. Jeremy Taylor , Volume 1, page 895,
    • It is certain that children may be cozened into goodness, and sick men to health, and passengers in a storm into safety; and the reason of these is, — because not only the end is fair, and charitable, and just, but the means are such which do no injury to the persons which are to receive benefit;.
  • * 1866 , Spoils, By a Receiver'', Charles Chauncey Burr (editor), ''The Old Guard: A Monthly Journal Devoted to the Principles of 1776 and 1787 , Volume 4, page 497,
    • The man, too, who has been matrimonially cozened''''', "would all the world might be '''cozened'''," for he has been '''cozened''', and beaten too; but with him the cudgel is "hallowed;" he would "hang it o'er the altar;" perhaps for the reason given by the "Merry Wives of Windsor," because "it hath done meritorious service;" and no sooner is he, by a seemingly merciful disposition of Providence, released from the cudgeler, but he is in haste to be ' cozened and beaten again.
  • * 1914 , , The Gates of Doom , 2001, page 217,
    • But that you should have been cozened' with me, that my ' cozening should in part have been a natural sequel to your own, rather than an independent error of mine, is a helpful reflection to me in this dark hour.

    Usage notes

    Modern usage is generally to effect a dated style.

    Related terms

    * cozener * cozenage

    References

    * Webster's New School and Office Dictionary, copyright 1962 * "cozen" on Online Etymology Dictionary