The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Recant \Re*cant"\, v. i.
   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.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Recant \Re*cant"\ (r[-e]*k[a^]nt"), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
   Recanted; p. pr. & vb. n. Recanting.] [L. recantare,
   recantatum, to recall, recant; pref. re- re- + cantare to
   sing, to sound. See 3d Cant, Chant.]
   To withdraw or repudiate formally and publicly (opinions
   formerly expressed); to contradict, as a former declaration;
   to take back openly; to retract; to recall.
   [1913 Webster]

         How soon . . . ease would recant
         Vows made in pain, as violent and void!  --Milton.
   [1913 Webster]

   Syn: To retract; recall; revoke; abjure; disown; disavow. See
        Renounce.
        [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

recant
    v 1: formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually
         under pressure; "He retracted his earlier statements about
         his religion"; "She abjured her beliefs" [syn: abjure,
         recant, forswear, retract, resile]