coven en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈkʌv.ən/
Etymology
From Middle English covent, from Anglo-Norman covent, cuvent, from Old French covent, from Latin conventum, from conveniō, from cum (“with”) and venio (“to come”). Doublet of convent.
Meanings
- A nunnery, a convent.
- (obsolete) A confederacy or band of people.
-
A formal group or assembly of witches.
A coven of witches is traditionally composed of thirteen members of either sex, with one of them acting as officer or priest.
1965, Attila Zohar, Kings Cross Black Magic, Sydney: Horwitz Publications, page 71:
- In fantasy fiction, a family, group or assembly of vampires.
-
A clique that shares common interests or activities.
“This is a very African area”, he said as they maneuvered their way among the covens of menacing children gathered in the halls.
1986, David Leavitt, The Lost Language of Cranes (paperback), Penguin, page 12:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| covens | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
covenstead · covener · covendom
Translations (31)
fi noitapiiri (formal group or assembly of witches) · fr clique (clique) · ga coibhín (formal group or assembly of witches) · oc clica (clique) · ja 魔女団 (formal group or assembly of witches) · ja 魔女の集まり (formal group or assembly of witches) · nl kliek (clique) · pl sabat (formal group or assembly of witches) · uk ша́баш (formal group or assembly of witches) · nl heksenkring (formal group or assembly of witches) · ca aquelarre (formal group or assembly of witches) · sv häxcirkel (formal group or assembly of witches) · es aquelarre (formal group or assembly of witches) · no heksemøte (formal group or assembly of witches) · no hekseforsamling (formal group or assembly of witches) · oc sabat (formal group or assembly of witches) · cs čarodějnický sabat (formal group or assembly of witches) · ru ша́баш (formal group or assembly of witches) · fr clan (formal group or assembly of witches) · de Hexenzirkel (formal group or assembly of witches) · es gremio (clique) · eu akelarre (formal group or assembly of witches) · cy cwfen (formal group or assembly of witches) · fr sabbat (formal group or assembly of witches) · no heksesabbat (formal group or assembly of witches) · fr coven (formal group or assembly of witches) · ga coibhín fia-chailleach (formal group or assembly of witches) · oc chaurit (formal group or assembly of witches) · pt conventículo (formal group or assembly of witches) · pl zlot czarownic (formal group or assembly of witches) · bg сбор на вещици (formal group or assembly of witches)