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.
1. To copulate with (a female); to serve; as, a horse covers
a mare; -- said of the male.
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)
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