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# covet

verb (covet, covets, coveted, coveting)

«covet» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To covet something is to want very much something that belongs to someone else. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/covet/#m1)
2. (Bible) «You shall not covet» is the last of the Ten Commandments, telling people not to long for their neighbour's house, wife or belongings. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/covet/#m2)
3. A coveted prize or place is one that many people want. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/covet/#m3)

### In the lessons

In religious education and ethics the commandment against coveting teaches contentment. In everyday and sports writing a «coveted trophy» is one everyone wants. Phrases: «covet your neighbour's», «a coveted prize», «coveted place».

### Examples

- The Ten Commandments say, «You shall not covet». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/covet/#x1)
- He coveted his friend's new bike. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/covet/#x2)
- The gold cup is the most coveted prize in the league. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/covet/#x3)
- She won a coveted place in the school orchestra. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/covet/#x4)
- Coveting what others have can make you unhappy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/covet/#x5)
- The dragon coveted the king's treasure. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/covet/#x6)
- Try to be thankful instead of coveting. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/covet/#x7)
- Not even in nightmares had she ever seen such horrible creatures as her much-coveted box contained. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/covet/#x8)

### Note

Regular verb: coveted, coveting (one t). Noun/adjective: covetous. Formal or biblical; plain words: want badly, envy. Not the same as «cover».

## In Jewish tradition

In the Ten Commandments it means to desire strongly what belongs to a neighbour. It can also mean to want something so much that one acts to take it.

**Interpretation.** Tradition teaches that this commandment is about the heart, not only actions. The commentators say it trains people to be content and to trust in what God has given.

### Examples

- Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house; thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. (Torah EXO.20.17, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/covet/#x1)
- Neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's wife; neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's house, his field, or his man-servant, or his maid-servant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour's. (Torah DEU.5.21, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/covet/#x2)
- For I will cast out nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders; neither shall any man covet thy land, when thou goest up to appear before the LORD thy God three times in the year. (Torah EXO.34.24, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/covet/#x3)
- And they covet fields, and seize them; and houses, and take them away; thus they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage. (Prophets MIC.2.2, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/covet/#x4)

### Note

Regular verb: coveted, coveting (one t). Noun/adjective: covetous. Formal or biblical; plain words: want badly, envy. Not the same as «cover».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «covet» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/covet/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«covet» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/covet.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «covet» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/covet/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«covet» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/covet.html) on Mova free.