recreant Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an abject coward
    poltroon; craven.
  2. noun a disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion or political party or friend etc.
    ratter; renegade; deserter; turncoat; apostate.
  3. adjective satellite having deserted a cause or principle
    renegade.
    • some provinces had proved recreant
    • renegade supporters of the usurper
  4. adjective satellite lacking even the rudiments of courage; abjectly fearful
    craven.
    • the craven fellow turned and ran
    • a craven proposal to raise the white flag
    • this recreant knight"- Spenser

WordNet

Rec"re*ant adjective
Etymology
OF., cowardly, fr. recroire, recreire, to forsake, leave, tire, discourage, regard as conquered, LL. recredere se to declare one's self conquered in combat; hence, those are called recrediti or recreanti who are considered infamous; L. pref. re- again, back + credere to believe, to be of opinion; hence, originally, to disavow one's opinion. See Creed.
Definitions
  1. Crying for mercy, as a combatant in the trial by battle; yielding; cowardly; mean-spirited; craven. "This recreant knight." Spenser.
  2. Apostate; false; unfaithful.
    Who, for so many benefits received, Turned recreant to God, ingrate and false. Milton.
Rec"re*ant noun
Definitions
  1. One who yields in combat, and begs for mercy; a mean-spirited, cowardly wretch. Blackstone.
    You are all recreants and dastards! Shak.

Webster 1913