'Recreant' definitions:
Definition of 'recreant'
(from WordNet)
adjective
Having deserted a cause or principle; "some provinces had proved recreant"; "renegade supporters of the usurper" [syn: recreant, renegade]
adjective
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]
noun
noun
Definition of 'Recreant'
From: 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]
Definition of 'Recreant'
From: GCIDE
- 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]
Synonyms of 'recreant'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- apostate,
- arrant coward,
- atheist,
- atheistic,
- backslider,
- backsliding,
- bad egg,
- bad lot,
- base,
- black sheep,
- blackguardly,
- blasphemer,
- blasphemous,
- bolter,
- caitiff,
- collaborationist,
- collaborative,
- collaborator,
- convert,
- craven,
- dastard,
- dastardly,
- defector,
- degenerate,
- degraded,
- derelict,
- deserter,
- disaffected,
- disloyal,
- dunghill,
- dunghilly,
- faithless,
- fallen,
- fallen angel,
- fallen from grace,
- false,
- fickle,
- fifth columnist,
- impious,
- inconstant,
- infamous,
- irreligious,
- irreverent,
- knavish,
- lapsed,
- lecher,
- lost sheep,
- lost soul,
- miscreant,
- mugwump,
- not true to,
- notorious,
- of bad faith,
- perfidious,
- pervert,
- pimp,
- poltroon,
- poltroonish,
- profanatory,
- profane,
- profligate,
- proselyte,
- pusillanimous,
- quisling,
- rascally,
- rat,
- recidivist,
- recidivistic,
- renegade,
- renegado,
- renegate,
- reprobate,
- reversionist,
- roguish,
- runagate,
- Sabbath-breaker,
- sacrilegious,
- sacrilegist,
- scampish,
- scapegrace,
- schismatic,
- scoundrelly,
- seceder,
- secessionist,
- separatist,
- sneak,
- sorry lot,
- strikebreaker,
- tergiversant,
- tergiversating,
- tergiversator,
- traitor,
- traitorous,
- treacherous,
- treasonable,
- treasonous,
- trollop,
- trothless,
- turnabout,
- turncoat,
- turntail,
- unbeliever,
- undutiful,
- unfaithful,
- unloyal,
- unsteadfast,
- untrue,
- vile,
- villainous,
- whore