How Do You Spell COVERTURE?

Pronunciation: [kˈʌvət͡ʃə] (IPA)

Coverture is a legal term that refers to the legal status of a married woman, wherein she is considered to have no separate legal identity from that of her husband. The word is spelled with the IPA phonetic transcription /kuh-vur-cher/. The "c" before the "o" is pronounced as a "k" sound. The "u" in the second syllable is pronounced as the "uh" sound. The "e" at the end of the word is not pronounced, but it signifies that the "r" is pronounced with a sharp sound at the end.

COVERTURE Meaning and Definition

1. Coverture refers to a legal concept that prevailed in common law jurisdictions, notably in England and the United States, until the late 19th century. It involves the legal doctrine that a married woman's legal rights and responsibilities become subsumed or merged with those of her husband upon marriage. Under coverture, a woman's legal identity and individual rights were largely extinguished or restricted in favor of her husband's authority.

   The concept of coverture was rooted in the belief that marriage created a unity or fusion of two individuals into one legal entity—the husband. As a result, the wife's legal existence was seen as being encompassed within her husband's, and her rights and obligations became intertwined with his. This meant that married women were denied certain fundamental rights and freedoms, including the ability to own and manage property, enter into contracts, sue or be sued in court, and make independent decisions regarding their finances.

   The doctrine of coverture was founded on the presumption that the husband was the head and representative of the household, responsible for providing financial support and making legal decisions on behalf of both spouses. Coverture effectively reduced married women to a state of legal dependency and subordination to their husbands.

   The legal recognition of coverture began to erode in the late 19th century, with various legal reforms granting married women greater rights and autonomy. Its abolition marked a significant milestone in the advancement of women's rights and helped pave the way for modern marital laws that recognize the equal legal status of spouses.

2. Shelter; defence; in law, the state or condition of a married woman, as being under the power and protection of her husband.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for COVERTURE

• covertor
• couverture
• xoverture
• voverture
• foverture
• doverture
• civerture
• ckverture
• clverture
• cpverture
• c0verture
• c9verture
• cocerture
• coberture
• cogerture
• coferture
• covwrture
• covsrture
• covdrture
• covrrture

Etymology of COVERTURE

The word "coverture" has its roots in Old French. It is derived from the word "covrir", meaning "to cover". Originally, "coverture" referred to a legal doctrine established in medieval England which deemed a married woman to be covered by her husband's identity and legal authority. In this context, it symbolized the idea that a married woman was completely subsumed and protected by her husband's status and property rights. Over time, the term "coverture" evolved to encompass the legal and social concept of married women's limited legal rights and independent existence within marriage.

Similar spelling word for COVERTURE

• overture.

Plural form of COVERTURE is COVERTURES