Search Result for "recreant": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (2)

1. an abject coward;
[syn: poltroon, craven, recreant]

2. a disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion or political party or friend etc.;
[syn: deserter, apostate, renegade, turncoat, recreant, ratter]


ADJECTIVE (2)

1. having deserted a cause or principle;
- Example: "some provinces had proved recreant"
- Example: "renegade supporters of the usurper"
[syn: recreant, renegade]

2. lacking even the rudiments of courage; abjectly fearful;
- Example: "the craven fellow turned and ran"
- Example: "a craven proposal to raise the white flag"
- Example: "this recreant knight"- Spenser
[syn: craven, recreant]



The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Recreant \Rec"re*ant\ (-ant), a. [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.]
   1. Crying for mercy, as a combatant in the trial by battle;
      yielding; cowardly; mean-spirited; craven. "This recreant
      knight." --Spenser.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Apostate; false; unfaithful.
      [1913 Webster]

            Who, for so many benefits received,
            Turned recreant to God, ingrate and false. --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Recreant \Rec"re*ant\, n.
   One who yields in combat, and begs for mercy; a
   mean-spirited, cowardly wretch. --Blackstone.
   [1913 Webster]

         You are all recreants and dastards!      --Shak.
   [1913 Webster]


WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

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