recant

• POS: Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: re=cant

CIDE DICTIONARY

recant, v. t. [L. recantare, recantatum, to recall, recant; pref. re- re- + cantare to sing, to sound. See 3d Cant, Chant.].

 To withdraw or repudiate formally and publicly (opinions formerly expressed); to contradict, as a former declaration; to take back openly; to retract; to recall.  [1913 Webster]
"How soon . . . ease would recant
Vows made in pain, as violent and void!"  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- To retract; recall; revoke; abjure; disown; disavow. See Renounce.

recant, v. i. 

 To revoke a declaration or proposition; to unsay what has been said; to retract; as, convince me that I am wrong, and I will recant.  Dryden.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

recant, v.
1 tr. withdraw and renounce (a former belief or statement) as erroneous or heretical.
2 intr. disavow a former opinion, esp. with a public confession of error.

Derivative

recantation n. recanter n.

Etymology

L recantare revoke (as RE-, cantare sing, chant)

THESAURUS

recant

abandon, abjure, abolish, abrogate, annul, assert the contrary, back down, back out, backwater, belie, brush aside, cancel, cede, chuck, chuck out, climb down, contemn, contest, contradict, contravene, controvert, counter, countermand, counterorder, crawfish out, cross, decline, deny, despise, disaffirm, disallow, disannul, disapprove, disavow, discard, disclaim, discount, disdain, disgorge, dismiss, disown, dispense with, dispose of, disprove, dispute, disregard, do away with, do without, drop, dump, eat crow, eat humble pie, except, exclude, forgo, forsake, forswear, gainsay, get along without, get rid of, give away, give up, have done with, ignore, impugn, invalidate, join issue upon, kiss good-bye, make a sacrifice, make void, not accept, not admit, nullify, oppose, override, overrule, part with, pass by, pass up, push aside, quitclaim, rebuff, recall, refuse, refuse to admit, refuse to consider, refute, reject, relinquish, render up, renege, renounce, repeal, repel, repudiate, repulse, rescind, resign, retract, reverse, revoke, sacrifice, scout, set aside, shove away, spare, spurn, surrender, suspend, swallow, swear off, take back, take issue with, throw away, throw out, throw up, turn away, turn out, unsay, vacate, void, waive, withdraw, write off, yield

ROGET THESAURUS

recant

Tergiversation

VB change one's mind, change one's intention, change one's purpose, change one's note, abjure, renounce, withdraw from, waver, vacillate, wheel round, turn round, veer round, turn a pirouette, go over from one side to another, pass from one side to another, change from one side to another, skip from one side to another, go to the rightabout, box the compass, shift one's ground, go upon another tack, apostatize, change sides, go over, rat, recant, retract, revoke, rescind, recall, forswear, unsay, come over, come round to an opinion, crawfish, crawl, draw in one's horns, eat one's words, eat the leek, swallow the leek, swerve, flinch, back out of, retrace one's steps, think better of it, come back return to one's first love, turn over a new leaf, trim, shuffle, play fast and loose, blow hot and cold, coquet, be on the fence, straddle, bold with the hare but run with the hounds, nager entre deux eaux, wait to see how the cat jumps, wait to see how the wind blows.

Abrogation

VB abrogate, annul, cancel, destroy, abolish, revoke, repeal, rescind, reverse, retract, recall, abolitionize, overrule, override, set aside, disannul, dissolve, quash, nullify, declare null and void, disestablish, disendow, deconsecrate, disclaim, ignore, repudiate, recant, divest oneself, break off, countermand, counter order, do away with, sweep away, brush away, throw overboard, throw to the dogs, scatter to the winds, cast behind, dismiss, discard, cast off, turn off, cast out, cast adrift, cast out of doors, cast aside, cast away, send off, send away, send packing, send about one's business, discharge, get rid of, bounce, fire, fire out, sack, cashier, break, oust, unseat, unsaddle, unthrone, dethrone, disenthrone, depose, uncrown, unfrock, strike off the roll, disbar, disbench, be abrogated, receive its quietus, walk the plank.

Penitence

VB repent, be sorry for, be penitent, rue, regret, think better of, recant, knock under, plead guilty, sing miserere, sing de profundis, cry peccavi, own oneself in the wrong, acknowledge, confess, (disclose), humble oneself, beg pardon, turn over a new leaf, put on the new man, turn from sin, reclaim, repent in sackcloth and ashes, (do penance), learn by experience.

Dissent

VB dissent, demur, call in question, differ in opinion, disagree, say no, refuse assent, refuse to admit, cavil, protest, raise one's voice against, repudiate, contradict, have no notion of, differ toto caelo, revolt at, revolt from the idea, shake the head, shrug the shoulders, look askance, look askant, secede, recant.

Negation

VB deny, contradict, contravene, controvert, give denial to, gainsay, negative, shake the head, disown, disaffirm, disclaim, disavow, recant, revoke, dispute, impugn, traverse, rebut, join issue upon, bring in question, call in question, give the lie in his throat, give one the lie in his throat, deny flatly, deny peremptorily, deny emphatically, deny absolutely, deny wholly, deny entirely, give the lie to, belie, repudiate, set aside, ignore, rebut, qualify, refuse, recuse.