/rek"yeuh zeuhnt, ri kyooh"zeuhnt/ , adj.
1. refusing to submit, comply, etc.
2. obstinate in refusal.
3. Eng. Hist. refusing to attend services of the Church of England.
n.
4. a person who is recusant.
5. Eng. Hist. a person, esp. a Roman Catholic, who refused to attend the services of the Church of England.
[ 1545-55; recusant- (s. of recusans ), prp. of recusare to demur, object, equiv. to re- RE- + -cusare, v. deriv. of causa CAUSE; see -ANT ]