▪ I. recant, v.1
(rɪˈkænt)
[ad. L. recant-āre to recall, revoke (Horace), f. re- re- 2 d + cantāre to sing, chant: cf. Gr. παλινῳδεῖν.]
1. trans. To withdraw, retract, or renounce (a statement, opinion, belief, etc.) as erroneous, and esp. with formal or public confession of error in matters of religion.
| 1535 Lyndesay Satyre 1136, I will recant nathing that I haue schawin: I haue said nathing bot the veritie. 1542–3 Act 34 & 35 Hen. VIII, c. 1 Suche offendour..shalbe for the first time admitted to recante and renounce his said errours. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 200 b, He was enforced to recant suche thynges as he had taught before. 1601 F. Godwin Bps. of Eng. 246 He was content to recant his opinions at Paules crosse. 1636 Featly Serm. in Strict. Lyndom. (1638) ii. 219 They recanted the Protestant Religion, and were reconciled to the Roman Church. 1719 Waterland Def. Queries v, Can you deny it without recanting all that you had said before? 1817 Moore Lalla R. (1824) 344 His criticisms were all..recanted instantly. 1853 Kane Grinnell Exp. xxxvii. (1856) 338, I was forced to recant in a measure my convictions as to the force of the opposing floes. |
† b. To renounce, abjure (a course of life or conduct) as wrong or mistaken. Obs.
| 1576 Whetstone Rocke of Regard iv. 99 Before the world, I here recant my life, I do renounce both lingring loue and lust. 1579 Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 101 Musing to renue his ill fortune, or recant his olde follyes. 1605 Play of Stucley in Simpson Sch. Shaks. (1878) I. 227 Let it suffice If with his tongue he do recant his fault. 1701 C. Wolley Jrnl. New York (1860) 55, I cannot say I observed any swearing or quarrelling, but what was easily reconciled and recanted by a mild rebuke. |
2. a. To withdraw, retract (a promise, vow, etc.). Now rare.
| 1596 Shakes. Merch. V. iv. i. 391 He shall doe this, or else I doe recant The pardon that I late pronounced heere. 1600 Fairfax Tasso v. lxix, The Captaine sage the damsell faire assured, His word was past, and should not be recanted. 1667 Milton P.L. iv. 96 Ease would recant Vows made in pain, as violent and void. 1855 Milman Lat. Chr. ix. ii. V. 230 Recanting all his promises and struggling out of his vows. |
b. To renounce, give up (a design or purpose).
| 1652 J. Wright tr. Camus' Nat. Paradox x. 232 Lest..compassion..should have made mee..recant the Design which I had resolved to execute upon him. a 1814 Word of Honor ii. i. in New Brit. Theatre I. 361 Edw. Then Thomas lied? Car. But I recant my purpose. |
3. intr. To retract, renounce, or disavow a former opinion or belief; esp. to make a formal or public confession of error.
| 1553 M. Wood [? Bale] tr. Gardiner's True Obed. To Rdr. A vj, How these incarnate deuils could..say yea than, & so impudentli..recant and say nay now. 1633 P. Fletcher Poet. Misc. 78 Here I recant, and of those words repent me. 1645 E. Pagitt Heresiogr. (1601) 44 Of a Congregation of Dutch Anabaptists..four recanted at Pauls Cross. 1768 H. Walpole Hist. Doubts 88 Not one of the sufferers is pretended to have recanted. 1830 D'Israeli Chas. I, III. xiv. 306 To induce him to recant, they attempted to confute his principles. 1876 Mozley Univ. Serm. i. 21 The earth must roll back on its axis again before the moral sense of society recants on these questions. |
† b. To go back on, resile from, an agreement; to refuse to fulfil a contract. Obs. rare.
| 1660 F. Brooke tr. Le Blanc's Trav. 316 We agreed for threescore and odd pistols, which I laid down; but he recanting and demanding more, I withdrew my money. 1755 N. Magens Insurances I. 403 Should the Giver of the Premium not approve of the Contractor, he may very justly recant. |
† 4. refl. To make retractation (of something).
| c 1590 Greene Fr. Bacon vi, Recant thee, Lacy, thou art put in trust. 1646 Gaule Sel. Cases Consc. 199, I will conceive, withall, that witches have as great cause as may be to recant them of their bargaine. |
Hence reˈcanted ppl. a., reˈcanting vbl. n.
| 1538 Elyot Palinodia.., nowe of some men called a recantynge. 1580 Hollyband Treas. Fr. Tong, Abjurement, a recanting. 1671 Glanvill Disc. M. Stubbe 8 Some, you phancy, may think, that you writ against the Errors of that recanted Book. |
▪ II. † recant, v.2 Obs. rare.
[ad. L. recant-āre: see prec. and re- 2 a, 2 c.]
1. To sing again; to repeat in singing.
| 1603 Holland Plutarch's Mor. 704 (R.) They were wont ever after in their wedding songs to recant and resound this name—Thalassius. 1611 Florio, Ricantare, to recant or sing againe. 1656 Blount, Recant, to sing after another. |
2. To relate, recount, rehearse.
| 1603 Holland Plutarch's Mor. 137 If one that sits by him..recant of some processe of law or action commenced. 1611 Florio, Ridetto, said, repeated, or recanted againe. |
▪ III. recant, v.3 rare—1.
(rɪˈkænt)
[f. re- + cant v.2]
intr. To cant or tilt back.
| 1793 Trans. Soc. Arts XI. 199 Wheel Cranes, by their recanting back, when overpowered by the weight. |