Is the word "Recreant" archaic now?
Hi! I'm not sure if the word recreant is now archaic or not, because some sources online list it as archaic and others don't mention that it's archaic. So could you guys please let me know? And if it is archaic, then is it archaic as both, its noun and its adjective form?
And if it's not archaic, then what about the "modifications"" of the word, specifically, recreance, recreancy, and recreantly?
Thank you so much!
Top answer
The American Heritage Dictionary shows the adjective "recreant" meaning "cowardly" and the noun meaning "coward" as archaic. It defines without comment the adjective meaning "faithless" or "disloyal" and the corresponding noun. I agree with this as far as it goes, for what that's worth.
- The American Heritage Dictionary shows the adjective "recreant" meaning "cowardly" and the noun meaning "coward" as archaic.
- It defines without comment the adjective meaning "faithless" or "disloyal" and the corresponding noun.
- I agree with this as far as it goes, for what that's worth.
- The Oxford English Dictionary calls the word "now poetic and literary ".
- This means that it is in no one's active spoken vocabulary, but you still see it.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
The American Heritage Dictionary shows the adjective "recreant" meaning "cowardly" and the noun meaning "coward" as archaic. It defines without comment the adjective meaning "faithless" or "disloyal" and the corresponding noun. I agree with this as far as it goes, for what that's worth.
The Oxford English Dictionary calls the word "now poetic and literary". Th
0How are you defining "archaic"? There are some quotes from Shakespeare (multiple works) containing the word "recreant."
It seems like most modern usages of the word are quotes from or references to Shakespeare, Marlowe, Spencer and Milton.
0
Related Questions