coven
/ˈkʌv(ə)n
/noun
1A group or meeting of witches.On the first day of spring in 1996, our local newspaper ran an article about a local coven of witches....
- They are a diverse group - ranging from gaming clans to virtual covens of the magickal sort.
- Witches have been coming together as covens for centuries because groups have stronger magick than individuals.
1.1often derogatory A secret or close-knit group of associates: covens of militants within the party...
- As a liberal, I had long suspected that we might have a secret coven over at CBS News.
- They have brought with them from the trade union covens the unreconstructed prejudices of an underclass.
- Sometimes a great mystery writer is forgotten way too soon - and needs to be brought back to public attention by a coven of loyal fans.
Origin
Mid 17th century: variant of covin.
convent from Middle English:
Convent was originally spelled covent, a spelling that survives in the London place name Covent Garden. The word came into English via Old French from Latin conventus ‘an assembly or company’, based on convenire ‘to come together’. Convene (Late Middle English), ‘to call people together for a meeting’, has the same origin; as does convenient (Late Middle English) ‘assembling or agreeing’; coven (mid 17th century) ‘gathering of witches’; and covenant (Middle English) ‘an agreement’.