| 释义 |
† ˈcovenable, a. Obs.
Also 4 -abul, 5 -abil(l.
[a. AF. and OF. covenable, cuvenable, early var. of convenable (cf. con- prefix), f. co(n)ven-ir, co(n)ven-ant, to agree:—L. convenīre to agree, come together: see convene. In Eng. convenable was further reduced to cov'nable, whence corruptly comnable, comunable, comenable, and conable. (Cf. the forms of covenant.) Ultimately the full form convenable was exclusively used in French and adopted also in Eng.: see convenable.]
1. Agreeing with circumstances; appropriate, becoming, meet, fit, suitable.
[1292Britton v. iii. §1 Lour covenable susteinaunce.] c1340Cursor M. 10122 (Trin.) Charite is so couenabul [v.r. comunable, comunabil]. 1382Wyclif Ex. xv. 23 A couenable name [Vulg. congruum nomen] he putte to the place, clepynge it Mara. 1395E.E. Wills (1882) 6 A bed couenable for a gentel womman. c1400Destr. Troy 7951 Withouten couenable cause. 1477Earl Rivers (Caxton) Dictes 89 He is happy that usith his dayes in doyng couenable thinges. a1533Ld. Berners Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546) H ij, Wise..as it is couenable for a curiouse prynce to be. 1581J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 383 b, All the Sacramentes..we doe observe in due and covenable order. 1628Coke On Litt. 82 a, Hee shall haue time and space to tender to him couenable mariage.
2. Agreeing with each other; consistent.
1382Wyclif Mark xiv. 56 Sothli manye seiden fals witnessinge aȝens him, and the witnessingis weren not couenable [Vulg. convenientia].
3. Suitable for a purpose, or to the needs or wishes of any one; convenient.
c1380Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. I. 388 Whan a covenable day fell. 1393Gower Conf. III. 339 The wind was covenable. 1489Caxton Faytes of A. ii. xxiii. 136 Engyns couenable to drawe out of the shippes the timber, the stones, the pipes and other thinges. 1569T. Stocker tr. Diod. Sic. iii. xviii. 135 Sending them into places couenable to winter. 1643Prynne Sov. Power Parl. ii. 70 To obvent the malice of such felons, and to see a covenable remedy.
4. Of persons: Of becoming appearance or behaviour; seemly, comely; accomplished. Cf. proper (man, child, etc.) in obs. and dial. use.
c1350Will. Palerne 4089 A ful loueli lady lettered at þe best, corteys & couenabul. 1398Trevisa Barth. De P.R. viii. x. (1495) 311 The sygne that hyght Gemini..makyth a man fayr, couenable, and of meane stature. c1400Beryn 244 Ful abill To armes, & to travaill, & persone couenabill. 1523Ld. Berners Froiss. I. ccclxxix. 635 A sonne called Philip, a right couenable and gracious man. |