recusant

noun

re·​cu·​sant ˈre-kyə-zənt 

ri-ˈkyü-

1

: an English Roman Catholic of the time from about 1570 to 1791 who refused to attend services of the Church of England and thereby committed a statutory offense

2

: one who refuses to accept or obey established authority

recusant adjective

Examples of recusant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The uniform of the conformist — sports shirt, cardigan, tennis shoes — is as easily recognized as that of the recusant — dirty white T, sideburns, two days’ growth of beard. —Chris Jones, chicagotribune.com, 15 July 2019

Word History

Etymology

Latin recusant-, recusans, present participle of recusare to reject, oppose, from re- + causari to give a reason, from causa cause, reason

First Known Use

circa 1553, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Legal Definition

recusant

adjective

re·​cu·​sant

ˈre-kyə-zənt, ri-ˈkyü-

: refusing to submit to authority

the recusant witness failed to appear despite a subpoena

recusant noun