recusant

re·cu·sant

noun \-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

Origin of RECUSANT

Latin recusant-, recusans, present participle of recusare to reject, oppose, from re- + causari to give a reason, from causa cause, reason

First Known Use: circa 1553