recreant

Noun · Adjective
Synonyms: poltrooncravendeserterapostaterenegadeturncoatratter

WordNet 3.0

Noun (2)

  1. an abject cowardSynonyms: poltrooncraven
  2. a disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion or political party or friend etc.Synonyms: deserterapostaterenegadeturncoatratter

Adjective (2)

  1. having deserted a cause or principle“some provinces had proved recreant”“renegade supporters of the usurper”Synonyms: 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”Synonyms: craven
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

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]
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]

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