a. [ OF. covert, F. couvert, p. p. of couvrir. See Cover, v. t. ] 1. Covered over; private; hid; secret; disguised. [ 1913 Webster ]

How covert matters may be best disclosed. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whether of open war or covert guile. Milton [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Sheltered; not open or exposed; retired; protected; as, a covert nook. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

Of either side the green, to plant a covert alley. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) Under cover, authority or protection; as, a feme covert, a married woman who is considered as being under the protection and control of her husband. [ 1913 Webster ]

Covert way, (Fort.) See Covered way, under Covered.

Syn. -- Hidden; secret; private; covered; disguised; insidious; concealed. See Hidden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. See Covert, a. ] 1. A place that covers and protects; a shelter; a defense. [ 1913 Webster ]

A tabernacle . . . for a covert from storm. Is. iv. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

The highwayman has darted from his covered by the wayside. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. [ Cf. F. couverte. ] (Zool.) One of the special feathers covering the bases of the quills of the wings and tail of a bird. See Illust. of Bird. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Law) Under the protection of a husband; married. Burrill. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Secretly; in private; insidiously. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Secrecy; privacy. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. coverture, F.couverture. ] 1. Covering; shelter; defense; hiding. [ 1913 Webster ]

Protected by walls or other like coverture. Woodward. [ 1913 Webster ]

Beatrice, who even now
Is couched in the woodbine coverture. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) The condition of a woman during marriage, because she is considered under the cover, influence, power, and protection of her husband, and therefore called a feme covert, or femme couverte. [ 1913 Webster ]