Definitions for: Recusant


[n] someone who refuses to conform to established standards of conduct
[adj] refusing to submit to authority; "the recusant electors...cooperated in electing a new Senate"- Mary W.Williams
[adj] (of Catholics formerly) refusing to attend services of the Church of England



Webster (1913) Definition: Re*cu"sant (-zat; 277), a.[L. recusans, -antis, p.
pr. of recure to refuse, to oject to; pref. re- re + causa a
cause, pretext: cf. F. r['e]cusant. 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, n.
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.

Synonyms: disobedient, dissentient, nonconformist, unorthodox

Antonyms: conformist

See Also: beat, beatnik, bohemian, contestant, dissenter, dissident, enfant terrible, heretic, maverick, objector, protester, rebel

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