Part 116

Rec"re*an*cy (-an*s?), n. The quality or state of being 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.

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.

Re`-cre*ate" (r?`kr?*?t"), v. t. [Pref. re- + create.] To create or form anew.

On opening the campaign of 1776, instead of reënforcing, it was necessary to re-create, the army.

Marshall.

Rec"re*ate (rk"r*t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Recreated (-`td); p. pr. & vb. n. Recreating.] [L. recreatus, p. p. of recreate to create anew, to refresh; pref. re- re- + creare to create. See Create.] To give fresh life to; to reanimate; to revive; especially, to refresh after wearying toil or anxiety; to relieve; to cheer; to divert; to amuse; to gratify.

Painters, when they work on white grounds, place before them colors mixed with blue and green, to recreate their eyes, white wearying . . . the sight more than any.

Dryden.

St. John, who recreated himself with sporting with a tame partridge.

Jer. Taylor.

These ripe fruits recreate the nostrils with their aromatic scent.

Dr. H. More.

Rec"re*ate, v. i. To take recreation. L. Addison.

Rec"re*a"tion (-?"sh?n), n. [F. récréation, L. recreatio.] The act of recreating, or the state of being recreated; refreshment of the strength and spirits after toil; amusement; diversion; sport; pastime.

Re`-cre*a"tion (r?`kr?*?sh?n), n. [See Re-create.] A forming anew; a new creation or formation.

Re`-cre*a"tive (-?`t?v), a. Creating anew; as, re-creative power.

Rec"re*a`tive (r?k"r?*?`t?v), a. [Cf. F. récréatif. See Recreate.] Tending to recreate or refresh; recreating; giving new vigor or animation; reinvigorating; giving relief after labor or pain; amusing; diverting.

Let the music of them be recreative.

Bacon.

--- Rec"re*a`tive*ly, adv. -- Rec"re*a`tive*ness, n.

Rec"re*ment (r?k"r?*ment), n. [L. recrementum; pref. re- re- + cernere, cretum, to separate, sift: cf. F. récrément.] 1. Superfluous matter separated from that which is useful; dross; scoria; as, the recrement of ore.

2. (Med.) (a) Excrement. [Obs.] (a) A substance secreted from the blood and again absorbed by it.