coven

noun

co·​ven ˈkə-vən How to pronounce coven (audio)
 also  ˈkō-
1
: a collection of individuals with similar interests or activities
a coven of intellectuals
2
: an assembly or band of usually 13 witches

Examples of coven in a Sentence

a coven of epicures who gather for monthly wine tastings
Recent Examples on the Web The covens offer a great deal of friendship and caring, like a congregation, very similar to a congregation. LA: If Litsteners want to go to an alternative pagan Halloween. Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Oct. 2023 Thirty years after the release of the cult-classic Halloween film, Ortega, 73, spoke with Entertainment Weekly about theories that teenage coven expert Allison (played by Vinessa Shaw) might possess some witchiness herself. Jen Juneau, Peoplemag, 17 Oct. 2023 But a cleaner who can get rid of the gang of evil spirits who have found inept San Diego a welcoming coven without fear of reprisal. Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Oct. 2023 Rodarte kicked off fashion month with a knockout show in which models floated by like members of a vampiric coven, all black velvet and lace. Jake Smith, Glamour, 17 Aug. 2023 Grab your besties and get a whole coven of vampires with fabulous hair together, or do up the Bride of Frankenstein design and enlist your sweetie as your monstrous date. Jill Gleeson, Country Living, 16 Aug. 2023 Bella is finally a vampire and her daughter, Renesmee, is growing quickly, but when the most powerful coven of vampires, the Volturi, decide Renesmee and the Cullens must be put to death, the family joins together to protect themselves. Samantha Olson, Seventeen, 13 Sep. 2022 As in the original 1993 version, a group of teenagers in Salem, Massachusetts (of course), accidentally summons the Sanderson sisters, a motley coven of witches, who wake up hungry for children to eat in order to maintain their youthful beauty. Hadley Mendelsohn, House Beautiful, 31 July 2023 His articles in the early 2000s describe how knowledge – once shared at no cost in covens – became something to be bought in the form of a book. Helen A. Berger, The Conversation, 26 July 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'coven.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English covin agreement, confederacy, from Anglo-French covine, from Medieval Latin convenium agreement, from Latin convenire to agree — more at convenient

First Known Use

circa 1520, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of coven was circa 1520

Dictionary Entries Near coven

Cite this Entry

“Coven.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coven. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

coven

noun
cov·​en
ˈkəv-ən
: a meeting or band of witches

More from Merriam-Webster on coven

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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