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Added 9 October 2026

recant

/ɹəˈkænt/ verb

Latin root: recantare First recorded: 1535 Wiktionary

verb Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about recant at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure.
He retracted his earlier statements about his religion

Origin

First attested in 1535, from Latin recantare (“to sing back, reecho, sing again, repeat in singing, recant, recall, revoke, charm back or away”), from re- (“back”) + canto (“to chant, to sing”), frequentative of cano.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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