different between turncoat vs recreant

English

Etymology

A compound of turn +? coat, reportedly derived from the sometime military practice of wearing uniform coats that were lined in material of a contrasting color, and which could be worn inside out to present a different appearance.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?t??n.k??t/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?t?n.ko?t/

Noun

turncoat (plural turncoats)

1. A traitor; one who turns against a previous affiliation or allegiance.

   Synonyms: apostate, defector, renegade

   • 1711, Jonathan Swift, An Excellent New Song

     But some will cry Turncoat, and rip up old stories, / How I always pretended to be for the tories:

Alternative forms

• turn-coat
• turn coat

Translations

English

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman recreant, Middle French recreant (“defeated”), from recroire (“to yield in a trial by combat, surrender allegiance”). See recray; and compare miscreant.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /???k???nt/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /???k?i?nt/

Adjective

recreant (comparative more recreant, superlative most recreant)

1. (now rare, poetic) Having admitted defeat and surrendered; defeated. [from 13th c.]
2. (now poetic, literary) Unfaithful to someone, or to one's duties or honour; disloyal, false. [from 17th c.]

Derived terms

• recreance
• recreancy
• recreantly

Noun

recreant (plural recreants)

1. Somebody who is recreant, who yields in combat; a coward or traitor.

Synonyms

Anagrams

• Terrance, canterer, recanter

Catalan

Verb

recreant

1. present participle of recrear

Dutch

Etymology

From Latin recreans, present participle of recre? (“I refresh; I invigorate”). Equivalent to recreëren +? -ant.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?re?.kre???nt/
• Hyphenation: re?cre?ant
• Rhymes: -?nt

Noun

recreant m (plural recreanten, diminutive recreantje n)

1. someone who practices or enjoys recreation

References

• H. H. Mallinckrodt, Latijn Nederlands woordenboek (Aula n° 24), Utrecht-Antwerpen, Spectrum, 1959 [Latin - Dutch dictionary in Dutch]

Anagrams

• traceren

Latin

Verb

recreant

1. third-person plural present active indicative of recre?

Old French

Adjective

recreant m (oblique and nominative feminine singular recreant or recreante)

1. recreant; defeated

Descendants

• ? English: recreant

References

• Godefroy, Frédéric, Dictionnaire de l'ancienne langue française et de tous ses dialectes du IX^e au XV^e siècle (1881) (recreant)
• recreant on the Anglo-Norman On-Line Hub