[re.cu.sant] n [L recusant-, recusans, prp. of recusare to refuse, fr. re- + causari to give a reason, fr. causa cause, reason] (ca. 1553) 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 adj