Recreant
/ˈrɛkriənt/noun
A cowardly or faithless person; historically, a person who yields or renounces allegiance.
Did you know?In medieval usage, a recreant was not just weak; the word could mark someone who had literally cried for mercy and surrendered their claim to honor or loyalty.
Etymological Timeline
Late Latin
LL
recredēns
“believing again; trusting again”
Old French
OF
recreant
“yielding, surrendering, or renouncing allegiance”
Middle English
ME
recreant
“a cowardly or faithless person; one who gives up in defeat”
Modern English
EN
recreant
“cowardly, disloyal, or faithless”