recusant

• ⇰ 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>as, a <ex>recusant</ex> lord</as>.

• ⇰ One who is obstinate in refusal; one standing out stubbornly against general practice or opinion.
• ⇰ A person who refuses to acknowledge the supremacy of the king in matters of religion; <as>as, a Roman Catholic <ex>recusant</ex>, who acknowledges the supremacy of the pope</as>.
• ⇰ One who refuses communion with the Church of England; a nonconformist.