Couvre

Couvre is the third-person singular present indicative form of the French verb couvrir, meaning to cover, to shield, or to conceal. It is one form among the present tense conjugations of couvrir, which also include je couvre, tu couvres, nous couvrons, vous couvrez, and ils couvrent. The verb is transitive, typically taking a direct object, as in “Il couvre la table avec une nappe.”

Etymology and lineage: couvrir comes from Old French covrir, derived from Latin cooperire or operire, meaning to cover or to close over. The form couvre appears in many derived expressions and compounds in French, reflecting the core idea of placing something over or overlying another thing.

Usage and meanings: Beyond the literal sense of placing a material over an object, couvrir covers a range of figurative and specialized meanings. It can mean to provide protection or shelter, to shield from danger, or to obscure. In journalism, couvrir an événement means to report on or cover an event. In finance or administration, couvrir les frais means to cover or bankroll expenses, and to couvrir un risque means to hedge or insure against a risk. The verb also participates in numerous idioms and fixed expressions.

Related forms and notable derivatives: the present participle is couvrant, and the past participle is couvert, used in compound tenses (j’ai couvert). Fixed noun compounds include couvre-feu (curfew), literally a “covering of the fire,” and couvre-chef (head covering). These illustrate how the root idea of covering expands into objects and concepts beyond the physical act.