First Known Use: circa 1553
Dictionary
recusant
noun re·cu·sant \-zənt\
Definition of RECUSANT
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
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Origin of RECUSANT
Latin recusant-, recusans, present participle of recusare to reject, oppose, from re- + causari to give a reason, from causa cause, reason
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