Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Recusant \Re*cu"sant\, n.
   1. One who is obstinate in refusal; one standing out
      stubbornly against general practice or opinion.

            The last rebellious recusants among the European
            family of nations.                    --De Quincey.

   2. (Eng. Hist.) A person who refuses to acknowledge the
      supremacy of the king in matters of religion; as, a Roman
      Catholic recusant, who acknowledges the supremacy of the
      pope. --Brande & C.

   3. One who refuses communion with the Church of England; a
      nonconformist.

            All that are recusants of holy rites. --Holyday.

Recusant \Re*cu"sant\ (-zat; 277), a.[L. recusans, -antis, p.
   pr. of recure to refuse, to oject to; pref. re- re + causa a
   cause, pretext: cf. F. r['e]cusant. See {Cause}, and cf.
   {Ruse}.]
   Obstinate in refusal; specifically, in English history,
   refusing to acknowledge the supremacy of the king in the
   churc, or to conform to the established rites of the church;
   as, a recusant lord.

         It stated him to have placed his son in the household
         of the Countess of Derby, a recusant papist. --Sir W.
                                                  Scott.

Source : WordNet®

recusant
     adj 1: (of Catholics formerly) refusing to attend services of the
            Church of England [syn: {dissentient}]
     2: refusing to submit to authority; "the recusant
        electors...cooperated in electing a new Senate"- Mary
        W.Williams
     n : someone who refuses to conform to established standards of
         conduct [syn: {nonconformist}] [ant: {conformist}]