Cover \Cov"er\ (k?v"?r), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Covered (-?rd); p. pr. & vb. n. Covering.]

[OF. covrir, F. couvrir, fr. L. cooperire; co- + operire to cover; probably fr. ob towards, over + the root appearing in aperire to open. Cf. Aperient, Overt, Curfew.]

1. To overspread the surface of (one thing) with another; as, to cover wood with paint or lacquer; to cover a table with a cloth.

2. To envelop; to clothe, as with a mantle or cloak.

And with the majesty of darkness round Covers his throne. --Milton.

All that beauty than doth cover thee. --Shak.

3. To invest (one's self with something); to bring upon (one's self); as, he covered himself with glory.

The powers that covered themselves with everlasting infamy by the partition of Poland. --Brougham.

4. To hide sight; to conceal; to cloak; as, the enemy were covered from our sight by the woods.

A cloud covered the mount. --Exod. xxiv. 15.

In vain shou striv'st to cover shame with shame. --Milton.

5. To brood or sit on; to incubate.

While the hen is covering her eggs, the male . . . diverts her with his songs. --Addison.

6. To overwhelm; to spread over.

The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen. --Ex. xiv. 28.

7. To shelter, as from evil or danger; to protect; to defend; as, the cavalry covered the retreat.

His calm and blameless life Does with substantial blessedness abound, And the soft wings of peace cover him round. --Cowley.

8. To remove from remembrance; to put away; to remit. ``Blessed is he whose is covered.'' --Ps. xxxii. 1.

9. To extend over; to be sufficient for; to comprehend, include, or embrace; to account for or solve; to counterbalance; as, a mortgage which fully covers a sum loaned on it; a law which covers all possible cases of a crime; receipts than do not cover expenses.

10. To put the usual covering or headdress on.

Cover thy head . . .; nay, prithee, be covered. --Shak.

To cover

ground or distance, to pass over; as, the rider covered the ground in an hour.

To cover one's short contracts (Stock Exchange), to buy stock when the market rises, as a dealer who has sold short does in order to protect himself.

Covering party (Mil.), a detachment of troops sent for the protection of another detachment, as of men working in the trenches.

To cover into, to transfer to; as, to cover into the treasury.

Syn: To shelter; screen; shield; hide; overspread.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Cover \Cov"er\, v. i. To spread a table for a meal; to prepare a banquet. [Obs.]

--Shak.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Cover \Cov"er\ (k?v"?r), n.

1. Anything which is laid, set, or spread, upon, about, or over, another thing; an envelope; a lid; as, the cover of a book.

2. Anything which veils or conceals; a screen; disguise; a cloak. ``Under cover of the night.'' -- Macaulay.

A handsome cover for imperfections. --Collier.

3. Shelter; protection; as, the troops fought under cover of the batteries; the woods afforded a good cover.

Being compelled to lodge in the field . . . whilst his army was under cover, they might be forced to retire. --Clarendon.

4. (Hunting) The woods, underbrush, etc., which shelter and conceal game; covert; as, to beat a cover; to ride to cover.

5. That portion of a slate, tile, or shingle, which is hidden by the overlap of the course above. --Knight.

6. (Steam Engine) The lap of a slide valve.

7. [Cf. F. couvert.]

A tablecloth, and the other table furniture; esp., the table furniture for the use of one person at a meal; as, covers were laid for fifty guests.

To break cover, to start from a covert or lair; -- said of game.

Under cover, in an envelope, or within a letter; -- said of a written message.

Letters . . . dispatched under cover to her ladyship. --Thackeray.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)