A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Covat(e, Covet, v. Also: cowate, -ait, covait, cuvate; cowet, covit, cuvet; p.t. covat(e, covet. [Northern ME. covaite, covayte, midl. and southern coveyte, coveite, cuveite, OF. coveiter, cuveiter.]
1. tr. To covet, desire to have (something).(a) a1400 Leg. S. ix. 123.
I cowate na warldly thynge c1420 Wynt. vi. 991 (W).
He covate attour mesoure Hie estatis and honour 1456 Hay II. 117/16.
Ony othir [men] that gave thair flesche all the lustis … that it covatis a1487 Gud Wyf & D. 33.
A woman suld … covat nocht clething mair deir Na be resone hir stat suld feir Ib. 190. 1531 Bell. Boece I. 248.
He began … to covate the haill empire of the warld c1550 Rolland C. Venus iii. 184.
Schaw now in time gif sic thing ȝe cowait a1568 Bann. MS. 135 b/57.
He that cuvatis [M. covaitis] all is abill [all] to tyne(b) c1460 Thewis Gud Women 148.
Than wyll thai cowet the maistry c1550 Rolland C. Venus ii. 309.
I couet seruice With siclike men, that vailȝeant ar and wise Id. Seven S. 393.
Thay will couet daylie his companie Ib. 6913.
Quhais lufe he couet abone all eirdlie thing a1568 Scott xxxiv. 127.
Ȝe cowet all kyn croppis, As Eua did the apill c1590 J. Stewart 25/358.
The vther na les coueting commend To battell bould rycht hardelie arrayt
b. absol. To be covetous.c1520-c1535 Nisbet Gal. v. 17.
For the flesch couatis agane the sperit a1568 Scott xxvi. 43.
Thay lichtly sone, and cuvettis quickly
2. To desire to do or be something.c1460 Consail Wys Man 177.
Couet nocht our hie to syt a1500 Bernardus 113.
Thow cowattys thane … To be oppresser … of the pur 1513 Doug. vii. xiii. 125.
Mair evidently he covat to proceid Agane his ancyent ennemy c1520-c1535 Nisbet Hebr. xii. 17.
Efterwart he couatand to inherite blessing, was repreuit 1531 Bell. Boece II. 102.
The ambassatouris … demandit him cauldly, gif he covate to return in Scotland 1533 Boece iv. xvi. 151 b.
The Romanis … only cuvate to reif elike the riches and poverte of all naciouns c1550 Rolland C. Venus Prol. 248.
I couet nocht with thame than for to be 1562-3 Winȝet I. 66/24.
All thais quha … covatis to duell in His grete hous
