Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Recreant \Rec"re*ant\ (-ant), a. [OF., cowardly, fr. recroire,
   recreire, to forsake, leave, tire, discourage, regard as
   conquered, LL. recredere se to declare one's self conquered
   in combat; hence, those are called recrediti or recreanti who
   are considered infamous; L. pref. re- again, back + credere
   to believe, to be of opinion; hence, originally, to disavow
   one's opinion. See {Creed}.]
   1. Crying for mercy, as a combatant in the trial by battle;
      yielding; cowardly; mean-spirited; craven. ``This recreant
      knight.'' --Spenser.

   2. Apostate; false; unfaithful.

            Who, for so many benefits received, Turned recreant
            to God, ingrate and false.            --Milton.

Recreant \Rec"re*ant\, n.
   One who yields in combat, and begs for mercy; a
   mean-spirited, cowardly wretch. --Blackstone.

         You are all recreants and dastards!      --Shak.

Source : WordNet®

recreant
     adj 1: having deserted a cause or principle; "some provinces had
            proved recreant"; "renegade supporters of the usurper"
            [syn: {renegade}]
     2: lacking even the rudiments of courage; abjectly fearful;
        "the craven fellow turned and ran"; "a craven proposal to
        raise the white flag"; "this recreant knight"- Spenser
        [syn: {craven}]
     n 1: an abject coward [syn: {poltroon}, {craven}]
     2: a disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or
        religion or political party or friend etc. [syn: {deserter},
         {apostate}, {renegade}, {turncoat}, {ratter}]