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  • covenanter
    covenanter
    noun
    a person who makes a covenant.
  • Covenanter
    Covenanter
    noun
    a person upholding the National Covenant of 1638 or the Solemn League and Covenant of 1643 between Scotland and England to establish and defend Presbyterianism

covenanter

American  
[kuhv-uh-nuhn-ter, kuhv-uh-nan-ter] / ˈkʌv ə nən tər, ˌkʌv əˈnæn tər /

noun

  1. a person who makes a covenant.

  2. (initial capital letter) a person who, by solemn agreement, pledged to uphold Presbyterianism, especially an adherent of the National Covenant or the Solemn League and Covenant.


Covenanter British  
/ ˌkʌvəˈnæntə, ˈkʌvənəntə /

noun

  1. a person upholding the National Covenant of 1638 or the Solemn League and Covenant of 1643 between Scotland and England to establish and defend Presbyterianism

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of covenanter

First recorded in 1630–40; covenant + -er 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

But if the covenanter be one of the better rank, the devil only draws blood of the party, or touches him or her in some part of the body, without any visible mark remaining.

From The Mysteries of All Nations Rise and Progress of Superstition, Laws Against and Trials of Witches, Ancient and Modern Delusions Together With Strange Customs, Fables, and Tales by Grant, James, archaeologist

This must first be put away, if one would be a right covenanter.

From The Auchensaugh Renovation of the National Covenant and Solemn League and Covenant With the Acknowledgment of Sins and Engagement to Duties, as They Were Renewed at Auchensaugh, Near Douglas, July 24, 1712. (Compared With the Editions of Paisley, 1820, and Belfast, 1835.) Also, The Renovation of These Public Federal Deeds Ordained at Philadelphia, October 8, 1880, by the Reformed Presbytery, with Accommodation of the Original Covenants, in Both Transactions, to Their Times and Positions Respectively by Presbytery, The Reformed

The patriot is a patriot still; and the covenanter is a covenanter still.

From The Ordinance of Covenanting by Cunningham, John

Mediaeval abbot and crusader, cavalier and covenanter, Elizabeth and Cromwell, spoke once more with a living voice to ears which were opened to hear.

From Victorian Worthies Sixteen Biographies by Blore, George Henry

Loudon: Scottish lord and covenanter; committed to the Tower for soliciting the aid of the king of France: he was sent to Scotland by Charles.

From The Browning Cyclop?dia A Guide to the Study of the Works of Robert Browning by Berdoe, Edward

In Dumbarton the situation was stoked by zealous local ministers, with the Covenanter movement having considerable influence at the time.

From BBC Oct. 30, 2025

Macartney's father, a strict Scots Covenanter minister, taught his children* a firm, old-fashioned set of religious beliefs.

From Time Magazine Archive

Their father was a mining engineer from Oil City, Pa. who liked to boast of his Scotch Covenanter descent.

From Time Magazine Archive

The town’s most distinguished native was Richard Cameron, the Covenanter.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 2 "Fairbanks, Erastus" to "Fens" by Various

Alexander, who thus became the 6th earl of Eglinton and took the name of Montgomerie, was commonly called Greysteel; he was a prominent Covenanter and fought against Charles I. at Marston Moor.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 1 "Edwardes" to "Ehrenbreitstein" by Various

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