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.
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   2. To envelop; to clothe, as with a mantle or cloak.
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            And with the majesty of darkness round
            Covers his throne.                    --Milton.
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            All that beauty than doth cover thee. --Shak.
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   3. To invest (one's self with something); to bring upon
      (one's self); as, he covered himself with glory.
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            The powers that covered themselves with everlasting
            infamy by the partition of Poland.    --Brougham.
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   4. To hide sight; to conceal; to cloak; as, the enemy were
      covered from our sight by the woods.
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            A cloud covered the mount.            --Exod. xxiv.
                                                  15.
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            In vain shou striv'st to cover shame with shame.
                                                  --Milton.
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   5. To brood or sit on; to incubate.
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            While the hen is covering her eggs, the male . . .
            diverts her with his songs.           --Addison.
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   6. To overwhelm; to spread over.
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            The waters returned and covered the chariots and the
            horsemen.                             --Ex. xiv. 28.
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   7. To shelter, as from evil or danger; to protect; to defend;
      as, the cavalry covered the retreat.
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            His calm and blameless life
            Does with substantial blessedness abound,
            And the soft wings of peace cover him round.
                                                  --Cowley.
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   8. To remove from remembrance; to put away; to remit.
      "Blessed is he whose is covered." --Ps. xxxii. 1.
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   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.
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   10. To put the usual covering or headdress on.
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             Cover thy head . . .; nay, prithee, be covered.
                                                  --Shak.
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   11. To copulate with (a female); to serve; as, a horse covers
       a mare; -- said of the male.
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   To cover ground or To cover 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.
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