recusancy

[ˈrɛkjʊz(ə)nsi]

recusancy Definition

• 1. refusal to submit to authority or comply with a regulation, especially refusal to attend or participate in church services or to take an oath of allegiance
• 2. the state of being a Roman Catholic in England during the period when Catholicism was illegal and persecuted

Using recusancy: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "recusancy" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  The recusancy of the congregation led to the closure of the church.

• Example

  Recusancy was punishable by imprisonment or even death.

• Example

  The recusancy of the Catholics in England was a major issue during the Elizabethan era.

recusancy Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for recusancy

• noncompliance
• disobedience
• insubordination
• defiance

Antonyms for recusancy

• compliance
• obedience

Phrases with recusancy

• recusancy fines

  fines imposed on Catholics who refused to attend Anglican church services during the period of Catholic persecution in England

  Example

  Many Catholics were forced to pay recusancy fines for their refusal to attend Anglican church services.

• recusant

  a person who refuses to submit to authority or comply with a regulation, especially one who refuses to attend or participate in church services or to take an oath of allegiance

  Example

  He was a recusant who refused to attend Anglican church services.

• recusant literature

  literature written by Catholics in England during the period of Catholic persecution, often in secret and under great risk

  Example

  Recusant literature includes works such as Edmund Campion's 'Decem Rationes' and Robert Southwell's 'St. Peter's Complaint'.

Origins of recusancy

from Latin 'recusare', meaning 'to refuse'

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Summary: recusancy in Brief

'Recusancy' [ˈrɛkjʊz(ə)nsi] refers to the act of refusing to submit to authority or comply with a regulation, particularly in the context of attending or participating in church services or taking an oath of allegiance. It was a major issue for Catholics in England during the period when Catholicism was illegal and persecuted. The term extends into phrases like 'recusancy fines' and 'recusant literature,' which refer to fines imposed on Catholics who refused to attend Anglican church services and literature written by Catholics in England during the period of Catholic persecution, respectively.