Formal agreements or contracts, especially those with religious or legal significance. Sacred promises or binding commitments between parties.
From Old French covenant, from Latin convenire (to come together, agree). Originally meant any coming together or agreement, but developed religious connotations through biblical usage, especially God's covenant with humanity.
The Dead Sea Scrolls mention various covenants, showing how this legal concept became central to religious thought. In real estate, 'restrictive covenants' still govern property use, maintaining the word's power to bind future generations to past agreements.
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