recant Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure
    retract; resile; abjure; forswear.
    • He retracted his earlier statements about his religion
    • She abjured her beliefs

WordNet

Re*cant" transitive verb
Etymology
L. recantare, recantatum, to recall, recant; pref. re- re- + cantare to sing, to sound. See 3d Cant, Chant.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Recanted; present participle & verbal noun Recanting
Definitions
  1. To withdraw or repudiate formally and publicly (opinions formerly expressed); to contradict, as a former declaration; to take back openly; to retract; to recall.
    How soon . . . ease would recant Vows made in pain, as violent and void! Milton.
    Syn. -- To retract; recall; revoke; abjure; disown; disavow. See Renounce.
Re*cant" intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To revoke a declaration or proposition; to unsay what has been said; to retract; as, convince me that I am wrong, and I will recant. Dryden.

Webster 1913