Recreant

a. [Norm. & O. Fr. recreant, cowardly; Pr. recrezen, from O. Fr. recreire, recreire, Pr. recreire, to forsake, leave, tire, discourage, regard as conquered; L. Lat. recredere se, to declare one's self conquered in combat; hence, those are called recrediti or recreanti who are considered infamous, from Lat. re, again, back, and credere, to believe, to be of opinion; hence, originally, to disavow one's opinion.]

1. Crying for mercy, as a combatant in the trial by battle; yielding; cowardly; mean-spirited; craven. Blackstone.
2. Apostate; false; unfaithful.

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