RECREANT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does recreant mean? 

• RECREANT (noun)
  The noun RECREANT has 2 senses:

1. an abject coward

2. a disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion or political party or friend etc.

  Familiarity information: RECREANT used as a noun is rare.

• RECREANT (adjective)
  The adjective RECREANT has 2 senses:

1. having deserted a cause or principle

2. lacking even the rudiments of courage; abjectly fearful

  Familiarity information: RECREANT used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RECREANT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An abject coward

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

craven; poltroon; recreant

Hypernyms ("recreant" is a kind of...):

coward (a person who shows fear or timidity)

Derivation:

recreant (lacking even the rudiments of courage; abjectly fearful)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion or political party or friend etc.

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

apostate; deserter; ratter; recreant; renegade; turncoat

Hypernyms ("recreant" is a kind of...):

quitter (a person who gives up too easily)

Derivation:

recreant (having deserted a cause or principle)

• RECREANT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Having deserted a cause or principle

Synonyms:

recreant; renegade

Context example:

renegade supporters of the usurper

Similar:

disloyal (deserting your allegiance or duty to leader or cause or principle)

Derivation:

recreant (a disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion or political party or friend etc.)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Lacking even the rudiments of courage; abjectly fearful

Synonyms:

craven; recreant

Context example:

this recreant knight

Similar:

cowardly; fearful (lacking courage; ignobly timid and faint-hearted)

Derivation:

recreant (an abject coward)

 Context examples 

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.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Sleepy old brother Athanasius, at the porter's cell, had a fleeting vision of twinkling feet and flying skirts; but before he had time to rub his eyes the recreant had passed the lodge, and was speeding as fast as his sandals could patter along the Lyndhurst Road.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

John of Hordle, he thundered, you have shown yourself during the two months of your novitiate to be a recreant monk, and one who is unworthy to wear the white garb which is the outer symbol of the spotless spirit.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)