Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Recusant

Re-cu′sant

(-zat; 277)
,
Adj.
[L.
recusans
,
-antis
, p. pr. of
recure
to refuse, to oject to; pref.
re-
re +
causa
a cause, pretext: cf. F.
récusant
. See
Cause
, and cf.
Ruse
.]
Obstinate in refusal; specifically, in English history, refusing to acknowledge the supremacy of the king in the churc, or to conform to the established rites of the church;
as, a
recusant
lord
.
It stated him to have placed his son in the household of the Countess of Derby, a
recusant
papist.
Sir W. Scott.

Re-cu′sant

,
Noun.
1.
One who is obstinate in refusal; one standing out stubbornly against general practice or opinion.
The last rebellious
recusants
among the European family of nations.
De Quincey.
2.
(Eng. Hist.)
A person who refuses to acknowledge the supremacy of the king in matters of religion;
as, a Roman Catholic
recusant
, who acknowledges the supremacy of the pope
.
Brande & C.
3.
One who refuses communion with the Church of England; a nonconformist.
All that are
recusants
of holy rites.
Holyday.

Webster 1828 Edition


Recusant

RECU'SANT

,
Adj.
s as z. [L. recusans, recuso, to refuse; re and the root of causa, signifying to drive. The primary sense is to repel or drive back.]
Refusing to acknowledge the supremacy of the king, or to conform to the established rites of the church; as a recusant lord.

RECU'SANT

,
Noun.
[supra.]
1.
In English history, a person who refuses to acknowledge the supremacy of the king in matters of religion; as a popish recusant, who acknowledges the supremacy of the pope.
2.
One who refuses communion with the church of England; a non-conformist.
All that are recusants of holy rites.

Definition 2024


recusant

recusant

See also: récusant

English

Noun

recusant (plural recusants)

  1. (historical) Someone refusing to attend Church of England services, between the sixteenth and early nineteenth centuries.
  2. Anyone refusing to submit to authority or regulation.

Synonyms

Related terms

Adjective

recusant

  1. pertaining to a recusant or to recusancy

Anagrams


Latin

Verb

recūsant

  1. third-person plural present active indicative of recūsō