covin: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Extremely Rare / ArchaicHistorical, Legal (Archaic), Literary
Quick answer
What does “covin” mean?
A secret agreement between two or more parties to deceive or defraud others, especially a conspiracy against a third party.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A secret agreement between two or more parties to deceive or defraud others, especially a conspiracy against a third party; historically, a fraudulent conspiracy.
In contemporary legal or historical contexts, it retains its meaning of a secret, fraudulent agreement. In archaic usage, it can also imply a fraudulent or deceitful plot more generally.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No current regional differences exist, as the term is equally obsolete in both varieties. Historical legal texts in both jurisdictions may contain it.
Connotations
Solely historical/archaic. Carries connotations of medieval or early modern chicanery.
Frequency
Virtually zero frequency in contemporary corpora for both BrE and AmE.
Grammar
How to Use “covin” in a Sentence
[NP] entered into a covin (with [NP]) to [VP]A covin (between [NP] and [NP])Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical/legal studies discussing old statutes (e.g., Statute of Conspiracies of 1305).
Everyday
Never used. Unknown to most native speakers.
Technical
Not used in modern technical fields.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “covin”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “covin”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “covin”
- Misspelling as 'coven'.
- Using it in modern contexts.
- Pronouncing it like 'coven' (/ˈkʌvən/).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it is an archaic legal term meaning a secret, fraudulent conspiracy. It is not used in contemporary English.
In historical legal usage, 'covin' specifically denoted a secret agreement to commit a fraud or deceive a court. 'Conspiracy' is the modern, broader term for any secret plan by a group to do something unlawful or harmful.
It is pronounced /ˈkʌvɪn/ (KUV-in), rhyming with 'oven'. It is distinct from 'coven' (/ˈkʌvən/), which rhymes with 'woven'.
No, unless you are a historian, legal scholar, or avid reader of very old English texts. For all practical purposes in modern English, use 'conspiracy', 'plot', or 'collusion'.
A secret agreement between two or more parties to deceive or defraud others, especially a conspiracy against a third party.
Covin is usually historical, legal (archaic), literary in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(archaic) by covin and collusion”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'COVer IN' a secret deal. A COVIN is a secret agreement you COVer UP INside a contract.
Conceptual Metaphor
DECEPTION IS A HIDDEN STRUCTURE (a covered, secret framework).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would you most likely encounter the word 'covin'?