Definitions: In the NT, to cover over in silence.

1. Generally meaning to conceal, with the acc.
2. To hold out, forbear, bear with, endure.

References:

1. 1 Cor. 13:7, love hides the faults of others or covers them up.
2. 1 Thess. 3:1,5; 1 Cor. 9:12; 13:7.

Definition: To hide with a benevolent purpose, either because of the incapacity of the receiver to understand or because of the knowledge of the revealer that such revelation of hidden things would not benefit the receiver. This is the word used by God in not revealing all that He knows, that which man cannot receive, in the same manner that a parent does not reveal all that he knows to his child because of the child's immaturity to comprehend or the relative unimportance of the information.

1. To hide away, conceal.
2. Metaphorically, to hide, not to reveal.
3. Used in an absolute sense.

References:

1. Matt. 25:18.
2. Matt. 11:25; Lk. 10:21.
3. 1 Cor. 2:7; Eph. 3:9; Col. 1:26; Sept.: 2 Kings 4:27; Ps. 119:19.

Matt. 11:25-- At that time (kaiRO-) Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden (aPEkrypsas) these things from the wise and learned, and revealed (apeKAlypsas) them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure (eudoKIa emprosTHEN). (NIV)
Alt.:--... to do thus came to be the way approved by you. (NWT)
Alt.:--... thank you for hiding the truth from those who think themselves so wise, and for revealing it to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for it pleased you to do it this way! (LB)
Alt.:--... for such was thy gracious will. (RSV)

I Cor. 9:11-- If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more? But we did not use (echre-SAmetha) this right. On the contrary, we put up with (STEgomen) anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. (NIV)
Alt.:--... we have not made use of this authority, but we are bearing all things (NWT)
Alt.:--... we have not used this power; but suffer all things (KJV)
Alt.:--We have planted good spiritual seed in your souls. Is it too much to ask, in return, for mere food and clothing? 12 You give them to others who preach to you, and you should. But shouldn't we have an even greater right to them? Yet we have never used this right, but supply our own needs without your help. We have never demanded payment of any kind for fear that, if we did, you might be less interested in our message to you from Christ. (LB)
Alt.:--... [we] have put up with all sorts of things (Phillips)
Alt.:--... but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. (RSV)
Alt.:--... we put up with all sorts of hardships (NAB)

Thy foes might hate, despise, revile,
Thy friends unfaithful prove;
Unwearied in forgiveness still,
Thy heart could only love.

BT Internet:  stegw, endure, put up with

St. John Chrysostom, Homily 33:  Seest thou how by degrees love makes her nursling an angel? For when he is void of anger, and pure from envy, and free from every tyrannical passion, consider that even from the nature of man he is delivered from henceforth, and hath arrived at the very serenity of angels.

Nevertheless, he is not content with these, but hath something even more than these to say: according to his plan of stating the stronger points later. Wherefore he saith, "beareth all things." From her long-suffering, from her goodness; whether they be burdensome, or grievous, or insults, or stripes, or death, or whatsoever else. And this again one may perceive from the case of blessed David. For what could be more intolerable than to see a son rising up against him, and aiming at the usurpation, and thirsting for a father's blood? Yet this did that blessed one endure, nor even so could he bear to throw out one bitter expression against the parricide; but even when he left all the rest to his captains, gave a strong injunction respecting his safety. For strong was the foundation of his love. Wherefore also it "beareth all things."

Adam Clarke:  Beareth all things] panta stegei, This word is also variously interpreted: to endure, bear, sustain, cover, conceal, contain.

Bishop Pearce contends that it should be translated covereth all things, and produces several plausible reasons for this translation; the most forcible of which is, that the common translation confounds it with endureth all things, in the same verse. We well know that it is a grand and distinguishing property of love to cover and conceal the fault of another; and it is certainly better to consider the passage in this light than in that which our common version holds out; and this perfectly agrees with what St. Peter says of charity, 1 Pet. iv. 8: It shall cover the multitude of sins; but there is not sufficient evidence that the original will fully bear this sense; and perhaps it would be better to take it in the sense of contain, keep in, as a vessel does liquor; thus Plato compared the souls of foolish men to a sieve, and not able, stegein dia apistian te kai lhqhn, to contain any thing through unfaithfulness and forgetfulness. See Parkhurst and Wetstein. Some of the versions have stergei, loveth, or is warmly affectioned to all things or persons. But the true import must be found either in cover or contain. Love conceals every thing that should be concealed; betrays no secret; retains the grace given; and goes on to continual increase. A person under the influence of this love never makes the sins, follies, faults, or imperfections of any man, the subject either of censure or conversation. He covers them as far as he can; and if alone privy to them, he retains the knowledge of them in his own bosom as far as he ought.

John Gill's Exposition of the Bible:  Beareth all things -- The burdens of fellow Christians, and so fulfils the law of Christ, which is the law of love; the infirmities of weak believers, and the reproaches and persecutions of the world: or "covers all things", as it may be rendered, even a multitude of sins, as charity is said to do, (1 Peter 4:8) not by conniving at them, or suffering them to be upon a brother; but having privately and faithfully reproved for them, and the offender being brought to a sense and acknowledgment of them, he freely forgives them as trespasses against him, covers them with the mantle of love, and industriously hides and conceals them from others.

John W. Gregson:  Love is like an unfolded umbrella inviting others to shelter; it covers other's faults with silence.

Matthew Henry:  It beareth all things, panta stegei. Some read "covers all things." So the original also signifies. Charity will cover a multitude of sins, 1 Peter 4:8. It will draw a veil over them, as far as it can consistently with duty. It is not for blazing nor publishing the faults of a brother, till duty manifestly demands it. Necessity only can extort this from the charitable mind. Though such a man be free to tell his brother his faults in private, he is very unwilling to expose him by making them public. Thus we do by our own faults, and thus charity would teach us to do by the faults of others; not publish them to their shame and reproach, but cover them from public notice as long as we can, and be faithful to God and to others. Or, it beareth all things.

Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown:  Beareth all things -- without speaking of what it has to bear. The same Greek verb as in 1Co 9:12. It endures without divulging to the world personal distress. Literally said of holding fast like a watertight vessel; so the charitable man contains himself in silence from giving vent to what selfishness would prompt under personal hardship.

BW Johnson:  Beareth all things. Bears up in spite of all things evil, and is not overcome. This is the idea of "beareth." Love bears up against the tide of evil, as the rock against the waves.

Mark Heber Miller:  (Love) bears all things.

The Greek is PANTA STEGEI, or literally, "(love) covers everything." The phrase is variously rendered: WMS: it bears up under everything; NEB: there is nothing love cannot face; PME: love knows no limits to its endurance; WEY: love overlooks faults; MOF: always slow to expose. The Greek STEGEI (STEGE) is rooted in the idea of a roof (Matthew 8:8; Mark 2:24; Luke 7:6). STEGO may convey two meanings: a) to cover by silence, or keep a confidence; and, b) to bear up against, or hold out against.

Given the immediate context STEGEI here may mean "love covers by silence" those matters which could be damaging or misunderstood about someone loved. Families do this all the time. So do true and genuine friends who are very reluctant to reveal negative information about a close companion. Peter exhorts to this kind of love: "Above all things, have intense love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4:8) The Proverbs teach the same thing:

"Hatred is what stirs up contentions, but love covers over even all transgressions." (Proverbs 10:12) This thought from Proverbs is likely what Paul has in mind when he says, "Love covers everything."

On the other hand, many translators prefer the other option: love bears up or endures everything. However, Paul is to go on in the same breath to state this, "love endures everything." So, it would appear the former notion of "love covering everything" would be more appropriate.

One of the most unloving things a friend can ever do is reveal a bit of confidential information to those who have no need or right to know it. Such may not be slander, for the subject is truthful, but unknown. It is rather terribly harmful gossip. Many a close friendship has been destroyed by such failures to cover or keep a confidence.

Additionally, love will cover others’ weaknesses or failures by a willingness to explain unchristian conduct. For example, someone reveals an error or trespass on the part of another. Love may cause one to make an excuse for the person rather than multiplying and passing along such gossip. A loving person might defend the person by saying, "Well, perhaps he (or she) was just having a bad day like we all do from time to time."

Robertson's Word Studies:  {Beareth all things} (panta stegei). stegw is old verb from stege, roof, already in 1Co 9:12; 1Th 3:1,5 which see. Love covers, protects, forbears (suffert, Vulgate). See #1Pe 4:8 "because love covers a multitude of sins" (hoti agape kaluptei feqos hamartiwn), throws a veil over.

Bill Turner:  Love bears all things, it bears up under everything. "Panta stegei."

"Stegei" is the present active indicative of "stego," to cover, to hold off, to hold out against; it comes from "stege," a roof, a flat roof of a house. It means to protect by covering, and has the thought of enduring, sustaining, uplifting and protecting. Love can bear and endure the faults and hatred of others, it delights to sustain and uplift struggling souls; and where it is consistent with Church purity and discipline, it covers with silence and conceals the faults of people. Love secretly mends and prays over the faults of others; no disappointment, abuse, injury or ridicule, can stop the healing ministrations of the loving heart. Peter knew that Christ's "agape" love "covered his multitude of sins." In 1Pet.4v8., Peter uses "kaluptei," the present active indicative of "kalupto," to throw a veil over, to cover, hide, and conceal. The noun, "kalumma," is used in 2Cor.3v13-16., of a veil. Where possible, love bears up, covers and veils the sins and failures of people.

Vincent's Word Studies:  Beareth (stegei). See on suffer, ch. ix. 12. It keeps out resentment as the ship keeps out the water, or the roof the rain.