† 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.
| [1292 Britton v. iii. §1 Lour covenable susteinaunce.] c 1340 Cursor M. 10122 (Trin.) Charite is so couenabul [v.r. comunable, comunabil]. 1382 Wyclif Ex. xv. 23 A couenable name [Vulg. congruum nomen] he putte to the place, clepynge it Mara. 1395 E.E. Wills (1882) 6 A bed couenable for a gentel womman. c 1400 Destr. Troy 7951 Withouten couenable cause. 1477 Earl Rivers (Caxton) Dictes 89 He is happy that usith his dayes in doyng couenable thinges. a 1533 Ld. Berners Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546) H ij, Wise..as it is couenable for a curiouse prynce to be. 1581 J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 383 b, All the Sacramentes..we doe observe in due and covenable order. 1628 Coke On Litt. 82 a, Hee shall haue time and space to tender to him couenable mariage. |
2. Agreeing with each other; consistent.
| 1382 Wyclif 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.
| c 1380 Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. I. 388 Whan a covenable day fell. 1393 Gower Conf. III. 339 The wind was covenable. 1489 Caxton Faytes of A. ii. xxiii. 136 Engyns couenable to drawe out of the shippes the timber, the stones, the pipes and other thinges. 1569 T. Stocker tr. Diod. Sic. iii. xviii. 135 Sending them into places couenable to winter. 1643 Prynne 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.
| c 1350 Will. Palerne 4089 A ful loueli lady lettered at þe best, corteys & couenabul. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. viii. x. (1495) 311 The sygne that hyght Gemini..makyth a man fayr, couenable, and of meane stature. c 1400 Beryn 244 Ful abill To armes, & to travaill, & persone couenabill. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. ccclxxix. 635 A sonne called Philip, a right couenable and gracious man. |