Middle English Dictionary Entry
recrēaunt adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | recrēaunt adj. Also recrea(u)nte, recreent, recraund; pl. recreauntes. |
| Etymology | OF recrëant, recrant, ppl. of recroire; for recraund cp. OF recrandement, var. of recrëanment adv. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. creaunt adj.
1.
(a) Admitting defeat, surrendering; defeated; also fig.; (b) maken ~, to cause (sb.) to surrender; subdue (sb.), overcome; seien ~, say 'I am vanquished, ' surrender; yelden (as) ~, acknowledge (oneself) defeated, surrender (oneself to Christ) as a believer; (c) cowardly; (d) as noun: one who is defeated.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?a1300) Guy(2) (Auch)p.594 : Ȝif his man þer slayn be, Or ouer-comen..Recreaunt in þe feld, His man he wil bicom.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.698 : He that despeireth hym is lyk the coward champioun recreant that seith creant with oute nede.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)3710 : Bifore þe king gan aiþer grant, Þat himself was recreant.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.814 : Sholde he therfore fallen in dispayr, Or be recreant [vrr. recreaunt, recreaunte] for his owne tene..al be his lady fair?
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2334 : They schouen thes schalkes..To rekken theis Romaynes recreaunt and ȝolden.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)5164 : Androcheus herde þe kynges pleint, Þat ner was recreaunt & teynt.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)184/23 : Many ben þat in þis bataile ben recreant.
- a1500(?a1400) Firumb.(2) (Fil)438 : Swythe ȝeldeth to me, as traytours recreaunt.
- a1500 Partenay (Trin-C R.3.17)4781 : The Geant..dede and recreant here lith.
b
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)49/1042 : Ich me ȝelde Recreaunt [vr. recraund] to þe, in þis felde.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)434 : Þow schalt þe ȝelde recreent ouþer her riȝt schaltou dye.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.9 : With dynt of suerd & drede he mad þam recreant.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.196 : Whilk of vs is doun, & mad is recreant, Cleyme & accioun he lese.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)18.100 : Ȝowre champioun chiualer..Ȝelt hym recreaunt rennyng riȝt at ihesus wille.
- c1410 Chaucer CT.Pars.(Hrl 7334)I.699 : He..is like þe coward campioun recreaunt þat seith recreaunt [vr. creant] wiþoute neede.
- c1450 PPl.B (RwlPoet 38)12.193 : Recreant [Ld: Þe thef..on gode fryday..ȝelte hym creaunt to cryst on þe crosse].
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)51/1 : But thou yelde the to me as overcom and recreaunte, thou shalt dey.
- a1500(?c1400) EToulouse (Cmb Ff.2.38)1127 : Þys traytour can hym ȝylde Os recreaunt yn the fylde.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)1256 : Sensualyte yelde hym recreaunt.
c
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)456 : Þer-fore com, oþer recreaunt be calde þe behoues.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4090 : If I it eny man graunt, Holdeth me for recreaunt.
- c1440 Degrev.(Thrn)595 : Þou sall noght make þin auant That I sall be recreaunt For frend ne for faa.
- a1500(?a1400) Morte Arth.(2) (Hrl 2252)1833 : Agrawayne and syr mordred Callyd hym Recreante fals knyght.
d
- c1425 Mirror LM&W (Hrl 45)129/2 : Þei beþ sone as recreauntes ouercome & falleþ þerfro.