Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “coven” come from?

Coven comes from Middle English covent, from Old French covent, from Latin conventus, meaning an assembly or gathering.

coven (English): A formal group or assembly of witches; A family,...

Definitions

  1. A formal group or assembly of witches; A family,...

Ancestry of “coven”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishcovent—
2Old Frenchcoventconvent
3Latinconventusconvened, assembled, having been convened;...
4Latinconveniō—
5Latincōn-—
6Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
7Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
8Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
10Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
11Middle Englishkyt—
12Germankitt—
13Old High Germankuti—
14Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
15Proto-Germanickweduzresin
16Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
17Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “coven”

  • covener
  • covenstead
  • covendom
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →