recreant

[ rek-ree-uhnt ]

adjective

1. cowardly or craven.

   Synonyms: yellow, base, pusillanimous, dastardly

   Antonyms: brave

2. unfaithful, disloyal, or traitorous.

   Synonyms: apostate, untrue, faithless

   Antonyms: loyal

noun

1. a coward.

   Synonyms: dastard

   Antonyms: hero

2. an apostate, traitor, or renegade.

recreant

/ ˈrɛkrɪənt /

adjective

1. cowardly; faint-hearted
2. disloyal

noun

1. a disloyal or cowardly person

Derived Forms

• ˈrecreance, noun
• ˈrecreantly, adverb

Other Words From

• recre·ance recre·an·cy noun
• recre·ant·ly adverb
• un·recre·ant adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of recreant¹

1300–50; Middle English < Old French, adj. and noun use of present participle of recreire to yield in a contest, equivalent to re- re- + creire < Latin crēdere to believe

Word History and Origins

Origin of recreant¹

C14: from Old French, from recroire to surrender, from re- + Latin crēdere to believe; compare miscreant

Example Sentences

When little Vladimir finally relinquished her, with assurances that he was ‘desolated to leave so early’, she was ready to rest, and see how her recreant knight had borne his punishment.

From Literature

‘Come, if you are not all recreant!’

From Literature

“Yield, recreant, what?” cried King PeDinore.

From Literature

“Yield thee, recreant,” said the King.

From Literature

“Sir, I was sent for to my lady your Queen, I know not for what cause; but I was not so soon within the chamber door when immediately Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred beat upon it, calling me traitor and recreant knight.”

From Literature