covenant
/ˈkʌvənənt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkʌvənənt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkə-və-nənt ˈkəv-/ (ame, mw) · /ˈkʌv.ən.ənt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkʌv.ən.ənt/ (ame, ipa)
covenant — noun
- covenantsingular
- covenantsplural
1. a legal document signed by several parties that lists the actions each side agre
a legal document signed by several parties that lists the actions each side agrees to take or to avoid
The landlord and tenant signed a covenant that banned subletting the apartment.
covenant restricting property use
Both nations agreed to a covenant that protected the entire border region from military activity.
covenant between nations
Asher's lawyer read the covenant aloud before he signed the property deed.
A restrictive covenant forbids any business activity inside this residential neighbourhood.
文法句型
a/the covenant between [parties]
a covenant to [verb]
用法筆記
In property law, a covenant often appears in a deed and can be "restrictive" (forbidding certain uses) or "positive" (requiring an action such as maintaining a fence).
常見錯誤
2. a written promise in which you agree to give a charity, church, or similar organ
a written promise in which you agree to give a charity, church, or similar organisation a set amount of money every month or year
Olivia signed a covenant with the children's hospital to give fifty pounds each month.
covenant with a charity — regular monthly amount
By signing a deed of covenant, Guo let the animal shelter claim back the tax on each monthly donation.
deed of covenant — tax reclaim mechanism
Under the terms of the covenant, Andrew agreed to pay two hundred dollars every quarter.
The church uses the money from each covenant to run its community food bank.
- pledge
less formal and not necessarily a legal document
- standing order
refers to the bank instruction, not the promise itself
文法句型
a covenant to pay [amount] to [organisation]
a deed of covenant
用法筆記
This sense is primarily British. In the UK, a "deed of covenant" was historically used to make charitable giving tax-efficient. The term is less common in American English, where "pledge" or "donor agreement" is more typical.
常見錯誤
3. in the Bible, a sacred bond that God establishes with humanity, containing God's
in the Bible, a sacred bond that God establishes with humanity, containing God's promises and calling for faithful conduct in return
In the Book of Genesis, God made a covenant with Noah after the great flood.
biblical covenant between God and Noah
The rainbow is a sign of the covenant between God and every living creature.
rainbow as sign of the covenant
Rin studied the covenant that God established with Abraham in the Old Testament.
Christians refer to the New Covenant that came through the life and teaching of Jesus.
文法句型
the covenant with [person]
the [old/new] covenant
用法筆記
Christians distinguish between the "Old Covenant" (the agreement with Israel through Moses and the Law) and the "New Covenant" (established through Jesus Christ). Unlike sense 1, this sense does not imply a written legal document.
常見錯誤
covenant — verb
- covenantpresent simple I / you / we / they
- covenants3rd person singular
- covenanting-ing form
- covenantedpast simple
1. to make a serious, legally binding promise, often in writing, to do something or
to make a serious, legally binding promise, often in writing, to do something or to follow specific rules
The homeowners covenanted not to build any structure taller than two storeys.
covenant + not to-infinitive (restrictive)
Both parties covenanted to resolve future disagreements through private mediation.
covenant + to-infinitive for future action
The company covenanted that it would keep the surrounding woodland free of development.
As members of the cooperative, they covenanted to share all farming equipment equally.
文法句型
covenant + to-infinitive
covenant + that-clause
be covenanted + to-infinitive
用法筆記
Typically used in formal or legal writing. The passive structure ("it was covenanted that…") is common in older legal documents. Unlike "promise," covenanting implies a written, legally enforceable commitment.
常見錯誤
2. to sign a legal document agreeing to give a fixed sum of money at regular interv
to sign a legal document agreeing to give a fixed sum of money at regular intervals to a charitable organisation or similar body
Valentina covenanted to give a hundred dollars each year to the local library.
covenant + to-infinitive + annual amount + recipient
The organisation covenanted to pay the school a fixed sum every term for five years.
Many supporters covenanted regular gifts to the refugee assistance programme.
Through a simple form, Lakan covenanted to donate fifty pounds every month.
- pledge
the common modern term; less formal and does not imply a legal document
文法句型
covenant + to-infinitive + amount
covenant + amount + to [organisation]
用法筆記
Chiefly British English. In modern UK practice, the term has largely been replaced by "Gift Aid" for tax-efficient giving, but "covenant" still appears in formal charity documentation.