RECUSANTS

Noun

recusants

plural of recusant

Anagrams

• Etruscans, arsecunts, rescuants

Source: Wiktionary

RECUSANT

Re*cu"sant (-zat; 277), a.Etym: [L. recusans, -antis, p.pr. of recure to refuse, to oject to; pref. re- re + causa a cause, pretext: cf. F. récusant. See Cause, and cf. Ruse.]

Definition: 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.)

Definition: 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.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition