Semitic word root √kpr
The Semitic root √kpr has the basic meaning of cover. The root is present in Hebrew, Aramaic, Arabic, and still used widely in modern languages. Latin coperire and English cover may also be related to it.
Things that cover
Hoarfrost and henna cover. The word for large basin-like bowls may be related as well, but also belong to to the √kpp root.
Hebrew kpr = henna, things that cover
Egyptian kpr = henna
Negation
Since if you cover something you make it disappear, the root also has the meaning of negation and disbelieving. This is particularly pronounced in Arabic.
Arabic kfr = disbelieve, cover oneself from true belief
Covered animals
There are many words for lion, but this one emphasizes the mane, which covers the male.
Hebrew kpr = lion covered with mane
כפיר kpyr kephir : lion, young lion, village; From kaphar, a village (as covered in by walls); also a young lion (perhaps as covered with a mane) — Old Hebrew (Strong)
כפיר kpyr : young lion; Of uncertain origin; perhaps a derivative of base כפר ᴵ (= to cover), and properly denoting a lion already covered with a mane. — Hebrew (Klein)
Places that cover
Villages were unfortified settlements without a city wall, that spread out and covered a large area with their buildings and fields. This is present in all major Semitic languages. In English you would “settle” an area, a debt or a problem, in the Ancient Semitic languages you “cover” it.
Hebrew kpr = village
Arabic kfr = village
كَفْر kfr kafr : open, town, village, suburb — Arabic (Wikt)
Aramaic kpr = village
Akkadian kpr = village
𒅗𒀊𒊒 kapru : farm, village; a settlement outside of a city — Akkadian (Wikt)
Ugaritic kpr = village
𐎋𐎔𐎗 kpr : village — Ugaritic (Wikt)
Pitch
To smear something with pitch covers it and makes it disappear. This is present in all major Semitic languages.
Hebrew kpr = pitch, cover in pitch
Arabic kfr = pitch
كُفْر kfr kufr : pitch, tar — Arabic (Wikt)
Aramaic pkr = pitch
ܭܽܘܦܪܳܐ kwprˀ kūp̄rā : pitch, tar; asphalt — Aramaic (Wikt)
Akkadian kpr = smear onto
𒅗𒉺𒊒 kapāru : to smear or daub on — Akkadian (Wikt)
Actions that cover
Repentance, appeasement and ransom money cover a previous problem, which would be translated in English as “settling”, as with the villages.
Hebrew kpr = cover, hide, actions that cover something
כפר kpr kaphar : to cover over (figurative), pacify, make propitiation — Old Hebrew (Strong)
כפר kpr kopher : bribe, ransom — Old Hebrew (Strong)
כפר kpr kippur : atonement — Old Hebrew (Strong)
כפרת kprt kapporet : propitiatory — Old Hebrew (Strong)
כיפר kypr kiper : to cover; to pardon sin, forgive; to obtain forgiveness; to expiate an offense; to make expiation for an offender, to free from charge; to appease one who has been injured, e.g. by paying a fee — Hebrew (Wikt)