coven

noun co·ven \ ˈkə-vən also ˈkō- \

|Updated on: 13 Aug 2018

Examples: coven in a Sentence

Definition of coven

1 : a collection of individuals with similar interests or activities

a coven of intellectuals

2 : an assembly or band of usually 13 witches

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Examples of coven in a Sentence

a coven of epicures who gather for monthly wine tastings

Recent Examples of coven from the Web

In a pivotal early moment in 1968’s Rosemary’s Baby, Rosemary Woodhouse (Mia Farrow) is raped and impregnated by Satan as a coven of chanting witches looms over her.

— refinery29.com, "Has Roman Polanski Ruined Rosemary's Baby's Legacy? No.," 12 June 2018
The coven may think of her body as a vessel, but the audience never does.

— refinery29.com, "Has Roman Polanski Ruined Rosemary's Baby's Legacy? No.," 12 June 2018
The series involves a world where some unsavory men brainwash a coven of witches into subservient, suburban housewives.

— tracy brown, latimes.com, "DC's Vertigo to relaunch with new name, logo and seven comic-book series," 7 June 2018
Photo: © Bob Willoughby/MPTV Images/Reel Art Press The husband, having stumbled upon a witches’ coven in his storied new building, trades his wife, specifically her womb, for earthly renown.

— rich cohen, WSJ, "‘Rosemary’s Baby’ 50 Years Later," 23 May 2018
As witchcraft has become mainstream, covens have become more casual.

— sophie saint thomas, Allure, "9 Myths About Witchcraft That Modern-Day Witches Like Me Are Tired of Hearing," 5 Apr. 2018
Pick your poison—a cult, a coven, a murder house, a freak show?

— lauren chval, RedEye Chicago, "What to watch if you’d rather stay in on Halloween," 30 Oct. 2017
In the 1960s, a coven calling themselves W.I.T.C.H (Women's International Terrorist Conspiracy from Hell) set about hexing Wall Street and beauty pageants and generally hanging around being creepy.

— emma grey ellis, WIRED, "Witches, Frog-Gods, and the Deepening Schism of Internet Religions," 3 Apr. 2018
Several Footprints at the River’s Edge commenters riffed on nautical folklore, suggesting that perhaps, like the sirens who tempted Odysseus, covens of attractive females were luring victims to the rivers.

— aaron gilbreath, Longreads, "Drowning In a River of Murky Thought," 22 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'coven.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of coven

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1520

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year