recreant etymology

Etymology

The word "recreant" derives from the Old French word "recraanter," meaning "to recant" or "to surrender." This, in turn, is derived from the Latin word "recrantare," meaning "to break down," "to give up," or "to yield."

Meaning

In modern English, "recreant" means:

  • A cowardly or treacherous person, especially one who betrays their principles or beliefs
  • A person who is weak or unworthy of respect

It can also be used as an adjective to describe something that is cowardly, treacherous, or contemptible.

Origin

The word "recreant" first appeared in English in the 13th century. It was originally used to describe knights who renounced their faith or allegiance to their lord. Over time, the meaning of the word broadened to include anyone who betrayed their principles or behaved in a cowardly manner.

Usage

"Recreant" is a relatively rare word in modern English. It is sometimes used in historical contexts or in literature to describe particularly despicable characters. It can also be used ironically or sarcastically to refer to someone who is being excessively cautious or timid.

Examples

  • "He is a recreant knight, who has betrayed his king."
  • "The recreant politician lied to his constituents."
  • "The recreant captain abandoned his ship in the middle of the storm."

recreant relate terms

  • credo

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  • creed

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  • redact

    Etymology Late Latin redactus past participle of redigere to bring back restore re

  • redeem

    Etymology The word redeem comes from the Latin word redimere which means to buy bac

  • redolent

    Etymology Latin redolēns fragrant Present participle of the verb redolēre to g

  • redundant

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  • redintegrate

    Etymology Latin redintegrare Prefix re again anew Root integrare to make

  • render

    Etymology Old French rendre Late Latin reddere Proto Indo European red Meaning

  • rally

    Etymology The word rally comes from the Old French word rallier which means to gath

  • receive

    Etymology The word receive comes from the Middle English word receiven which itself

  • recommend

    Recommend Etymology From the Old French recommander to commend recommend itself f

  • reduce

    Etymology Latin reducere from re back ducere to lead Middle French reduir

  • recreate

    Etymology Etymology is derived from the Greek words etymon ἔτυμον true sen

  • refer

    Etymology is the study of the origin of words and the way their form and meaning have chan

  • religion

    Etymology The word religion is derived from the Latin word religio which means rev

  • remain

    Etymology The word remain is derived from the Old French word remeindre modern Frenc

  • request

    Etymology The word request comes from the Middle English word requeste which in tu

  • require

    Etymology is the study of the origin of words and the ways in which their meanings have ch

  • recovery

    Etymology of Recovery The word recovery originates from the Old French term recover

  • rebel

    Etymology The word rebel derives from the Latin verb rebellāre meaning to rise ag

  • relic

    Etymology Middle English relike Old French relique Latin reliquia a thing left beh

  • remnant

    Etymology The word remnant is derived from the late Middle English word remenant wh

  • restive

    Etymology The word restive comes from the Latin word restare meaning to stand still

  • rest

    Etymology The word rest originates from the Old English word restan which means to

  • rally

    Etymology The word rally comes from the Old French word rallier which means to gath

  • ransom

    Etymology Middle English raunson from Anglo Norman French raençon from Late Latin r

  • redemption

    Etymology Redemption derives from the Latin word redemptio which means a buying back

  • rampart

    Etymology and Meaning The word rampart comes from the Middle English term rampart w

  • rebuild

    Etymology The word rebuild is derived from the Old English words re meaning again

  • refill

    Etymology The word refill is derived from the French word refiller meaning to fill

  • reset

    Etymology The word reset has its roots in the Middle English word resetten which mea

  • rewrite

    Etymology Etymology is the study of the origin and history of words It traces the develo

  • regret

    Etymology Old French regretter Late Latin regretari meaning to murmur complain Po

  • regard

    Etymology The word regard comes from the Middle French word regarder which means t

  • reward

    Etymology Middle English rewarde from Anglo French rewarde reward from Old French r

  • accord

    Etymology The word accord has its roots in Latin accordāre to be in agreement

  • cardiac

    Etymology The word cardiac originates from the Greek word kardia meaning heart

  • cardio

    Etymology Cardio comes from the Greek word kardia meaning heart Meaning Cardio

  • concord

    Etymology The word concord derives from the Latin word concordis which means harmo

  • core

    Core Etymology From Middle English cor core from Old English cōr from Proto

  • cordial

    Etymology The word cordial derives from the Latin cor meaning heart and the suffi

  • courage

    Etymology French courage Latin cor heart Proto Indo European ḱr̥d heart

  • credence

    Etymology Old French Credence Medieval Latin Credencia Latin Credere to believe

  • credible

    Etymology Latin crēdibilis from crēdō crēdere to believe Meaning Capable of b

  • credit

    Etymology The word credit comes from the Latin word credere which means to believe

  • credo

    Etymology The word credo comes from the Latin word credere which means to believe

  • credulous

    Etymology Latin credulus believing easy to deceive Proto Indo European root ker

  • creed

    Etymology Latin credo I believe Meaning A set of beliefs principles or doct

  • discord

    Etymology Discord is derived from the Latin word discordia which means disagreement

  • grant

    Etymology Middle English graunten from Anglo Norman French graunter from Latin grant

  • heart

    Etymology The word heart comes from the Old English word heorte which is related to

  • incroyable

    Etymology From Old French incroyable meaning incredible unbelievable Ultimately de

  • megalocardia

    Etymology Mega Greek large great Cardio Greek heart ia Greek condition or s

  • myocardium

    Etymology Greek myo muscle kardia heart Meaning The middle layer of the h

  • pericarditis

    Etymology Pericardium Greek around the heart itis Greek inflammation Meani

  • pericardium

    Etymology The word pericardium is derived from two Greek roots peri meaning arou

  • quarry

    Etymology The word quarry comes from the Old French word carriere which in turn is der

  • record

    Etymology Middle English recordan from Anglo Norman French recorder from Medieval La

  • recreant

    Etymology The word recreant derives from the Old French word recraanter meaning to

  • tachycardia

    Etymology Tachy Greek for swift or rapid Cardia Greek for heart Meaning Tac

  • apostate

    Etymology The word apostate comes from the Greek apostates which means one who rev

  • renegade

    Etymology The word renegade originates from the Spanish word renegado which in turn

  • craven

    Origin and Etymology The word craven originates from the Middle English word cravant

  • guilt

    Etymology Old English gylt crime sin Proto Germanic gultiz debt guilt Proto Indo

  • cohort

    Etymology The word cohort originates from the Latin word cohors which means enclosed

  • faith

    Etymology The word faith comes from the Latin word fides which means trust confid

  • communicate

    Etymology The word communicate comes from the Latin word communicare which means to

  • premise

    Etymology The word premise comes from the Old French word premise which in turn come

  • dichotomy