recreant

American  

[rek-ree-uhnt] / ˈrɛk ri ənt /

adjective

1. cowardly or craven.

   Synonyms:

   yellow, base, pusillanimous, dastardly

   Antonyms:

   brave

2. unfaithful, disloyal, or traitorous.

   Synonyms:

   apostate, untrue, faithless

   Antonyms:

   loyal

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noun

1. a coward.

   Synonyms:

   dastard

   Antonyms:

   hero

2. an apostate, traitor, or renegade.

recreant British  

/ ˈrɛkrɪənt /

adjective

1. cowardly; faint-hearted

2. disloyal

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noun

1. a disloyal or cowardly person

Other Word Forms

• recreance noun
• recreancy noun
• recreantly adverb
• unrecreant adjective

Etymology

Origin of recreant

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

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

“My King, my lord and my uncle. Is it the court’s will that I pronounce sentence upon this recreant traitor?”

From Literature

Even in that rare moment he was conscious of a regret that it was such a large hand, and his head jerked abruptly as he flung out the recreant thought.

From Project Gutenberg

A recreant in the fight; And fellowship with light.

From Project Gutenberg

He then applied to Judge Hall for a writ of habeas corpus, which was granted, and the recreant statesman was thrown into prison.

From Project Gutenberg