2. To envelop; to clothe, as with a mantle or cloak.
And with the majesty of darkness round Covers his
throne. --Milton.
All that beauty than doth cover thee. --Shak.
3. To invest (one's self with something); to bring upon
(one's self); as, he covered himself with glory.
The powers that covered themselves with everlasting
infamy by the partition of Poland. --Brougham.
4. To hide sight; to conceal; to cloak; as, the enemy were
covered from our sight by the woods.
A cloud covered the mount. --Exod. xxiv.
15.
In vain shou striv'st to cover shame with shame.
--Milton.
5. To brood or sit on; to incubate.
While the hen is covering her eggs, the male . . .
diverts her with his songs. --Addison.
6. To overwhelm; to spread over.
The waters returned and covered the chariots and the
horsemen. --Ex. xiv. 28.
7. To shelter, as from evil or danger; to protect; to defend;
as, the cavalry covered the retreat.
His calm and blameless life Does with substantial
blessedness abound, And the soft wings of peace
cover him round. --Cowley.
8. To remove from remembrance; to put away; to remit.
``Blessed is he whose is covered.'' --Ps. xxxii. 1.
9. To extend over; to be sufficient for; to comprehend,
include, or embrace; to account for or solve; to
counterbalance; as, a mortgage which fully covers a sum
loaned on it; a law which covers all possible cases of a
crime; receipts than do not cover expenses.
10. To put the usual covering or headdress on.
Cover thy head . . .; nay, prithee, be covered.
--Shak.
11. To copulate with (a female); to serve; as, a horse covers
a mare; -- said of the male.
{To cover}
{ground or distance}, to pass over; as, the rider covered the
ground in an hour.
{To cover one's short contracts} (Stock Exchange), to buy
stock when the market rises, as a dealer who has sold
short does in order to protect himself.
{Covering party} (Mil.), a detachment of troops sent for the
protection of another detachment, as of men working in the
trenches.
{To cover into}, to transfer to; as, to cover into the
treasury.
Syn: To shelter; screen; shield; hide; overspread.
2. Anything which veils or conceals; a screen; disguise; a
cloak. ``Under cover of the night.'' -- Macaulay.
A handsome cover for imperfections. --Collier.
3. Shelter; protection; as, the troops fought under cover of
the batteries; the woods afforded a good cover.
Being compelled to lodge in the field . . . whilst
his army was under cover, they might be forced to
retire. --Clarendon.
4. (Hunting) The woods, underbrush, etc., which shelter and
conceal game; covert; as, to beat a cover; to ride to
cover.
5. That portion of a slate, tile, or shingle, which is hidden
by the overlap of the course above. --Knight.
6. (Steam Engine) The lap of a slide valve.
7. [Cf. F. couvert.] A tablecloth, and the other table
furniture; esp., the table furniture for the use of one
person at a meal; as, covers were laid for fifty guests.
{To break cover}, to start from a covert or lair; -- said of
game.
{Under cover}, in an envelope, or within a letter; -- said of
a written message.
Letters . . . dispatched under cover to her
ladyship. --Thackeray.